so great an honour. As to your favourite Lady Gertrude, I don't
remember her; pray, is she handsome? I dare say she is, for although
they are a _disagreeable, formal, stiff_ Generation, yet they have by
no means plain _persons_, I remember Lady Cawdor was a sweet, pretty
woman; pray, does your sentimental Gertrude resemble her? I have heard
that the duchess of Rutland was handsome also, but we will say nothing
about her temper, as I hate Scandal.

Adieu, my pretty Sister, forgive my levity, write soon, and God bless
you.

I remain, your very affectionate Brother,

BYRON.

P.S.--I left my mother at Southwell, some time since, in a monstrous
pet with you for not writing. I am sorry to say the old lady and
myself don't agree like lambs in a meadow, but I believe it is all my
own fault, I am rather too fidgety, which my precise mama objects to,
we differ, then argue, and to my shame be it spoken fall out a
_little_, however after a storm comes a calm; what's become of our
aunt the amiable antiquated Sophia? [4] is she yet in the land of the
living, or does she sing psalms with the _Blessed_ in the other world.
Adieu. I am happy enough and Comfortable here. My friends are not
numerous, but select; among them I rank as the principal Lord
Delawarr, [5] who is very amiable and my particular friend; do you
know the family at all? Lady Delawarr is frequently in town, perhaps
you may have seen her; if she resembles her son she is the most
amiable woman in Europe. I have plenty of acquaintances, but I reckon
them as mere Blanks. Adieu, my dear Augusta.