How, Sir! And can you thus adhere? But I will allow of your reference

And be determined by their advice, madam?

But I will not trust you, Sir, with pleading your own cause.

Are you not arbitrary, madam?

In this point, if I am, ought I not to be so?

Yes, if you will resume a power you had so gene-rously resigned.

May I not, Sir, when I think it over-strained in the hands of the person to whom, in better hopes, it was delegated?

That, dear lady, is the point to be tried. You consent to refer the merits of it to your grand-mamma and aunt?

If I do, Sir, you ought not to call me arbitrary.

It is gracious, bowing, in my sovereign lady, to submit her absolute will and pleasure to arbitration.

Very well, Sir! But will you not submit to mi/ oivn award?

Tell me, dear ^liss Byron, tell me, if I do, how generous will you be?

I was far from intending

Was, madam I hope I may dwell upon that word, and repeat my question?

Am, Sir. I (un far from intending

No more, dear madam. I appeal to another tri-bunal.

Well, Sir, I will endeavour to recollect the sub-stance of this conversation, and lay it, in writing, before the judges you have named. Lucy shall be a third.

You will perniit me, madam, to see your state of the case, before you lay it before the judges?

No, Sir. None but they must see it, till it makes part of a letter to Lady G. who then shall shew it only to Lady L.

It is the harder to be thus prescribed to, my dear Miss Byron, because

What, Sir, in my day?

That was what I was going to urge, because mine will never come. Every day, to the end of my life, will be yours [Dear man!j Only, Sir, as I deserve your kindness: I wish not for it on other terms. And you:— h;dl be then sole judge of my deserts. I will not ai)peal to any other tribunal.

He gracefully bowed. I think, said he, smiling, I must withdraw my intended appeal: I am half-afraid of mj’ judges; and perhaps ought to rely wholly on your goodness.

No, no, Sir! Your intention is your act. In that sense you have appealed to Caesar.*

I never before was in love with despotism. You mention writing to my sisters: you correspond with them, I presume, as you formerly did with our Lucy, Let me tell you, madam, that you had not been Miss Byron, fourteen days after I was favoured with the sight of those letters, had I been at liberty to offer you my heart, and could I have prevailed on you to accept it. Your distress, your noble frankness of heart

And let me own, Sir, as an instance of the frankness you are pleased to encourage, that gratitude for the deliverance you so nobly gave me, had as much power over my heart, as the openness of mine, and my distress, could have over yours.