be justified in my conduct. Now if I am to be tormented with her and
him in this style, I cannot submit to it. You, Augusta, are the only
relation I have who treats me as a friend; if you too desert me, I
have nobody I can love but Delawarr. If it was not for his sake,
Harrow would be a desert, and I should dislike staying at it. You
desire me to burn your epistles; indeed I cannot do that, but I will
take care that They shall be invisible. If you burn any of mine, I
shall be _monstrous angry_; take care of them till we meet.

Delawarr [2] and myself are in a manner connected, for one of our
forefathers in Charles the 1st's time married into their family.
Hartington, [3] whom you enquire after, is on very good terms with me,
nothing more, he is of a soft milky disposition, and of a happy apathy
of temper which defies the softer emotions, and is insensible of ill
treatment; so much for him. Don't betray me to the Dowager. I should
like to know your Lady Gertrude, as you and her are so great Friends.
Adieu, my Sister, write. From

[Signature, etc., cut out.]



[Footnote 1: The Rev. Joseph Drury, D.D. (1750-1834), educated at
Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge, was appointed an
Assistant-master at Harrow before he was one and twenty. He was
Head-master from 1784 to 1805. In that year he retired, and till his
death in 1834 lived at Cockwood, in Devonshire, where he devoted himself
to farming. The following statement by Dr. Drury illustrates Byron's
respect for his Head-master ('Life', p. 20):--