Some documents relating to Lord Byron’s Finances during the years 1812 - 1818
[update 7/9/98]
1: Byron’s account with Hoare’s Bank, 37, Fleet Street 2
HOARE LEDGER 24 f 54 [I]: * indicates that the account entry is corroborated by a cheque-stub in the Murray Archive. † shows a corresponding receipt in the Archive.
The R.. t Hon.. ble Lord Byron Dr.. 1812 Nov 10 To S.B.Davie’s Bill 1500 To Jn o Hanson 1500 1813 Feb 1 To Lord Oxford 52 10 * To M r Dolman 139 * 3 To M r Sheldrake 42 * 4 To M r Newman 100 * 6 To M r Smith 35 * 10 To W Everett 15 * 11 To M r Love 112 * To Johnson & C o 43 19 * To M r Johnson 33 12 * 16 To Mr Finn 50 * 18 To Cap t G Byron 20 * 19 To Mortimer & Co 19 [1s 6d] † 22 To Miss Massingberd 20 * Mar 5 To Mr Lisle 20 * 6 To M r Hicks 81 * 9 To Miss Massingberd 25 * 12 To M r Richold 16 * 13 To Ro Rushton’s Bill 50 To J Murray’s d o 50 26 To W Fletcher 100 * Apl 24 To F Hodgson’s Bill 200 28 To M r Lane 100 * May 1 To Miss Massingberd 25 3 To M r Richoli [Richold??] 31 * 4 To M r Werball 84 * To J Bayman 15 * To M r Fletcher 50 * 13 To Mrs Terry 10 * 20 To M r Reeves 31 * 25 To M Fletcher 50 * 26 To M Love 100 * June 1 To M r Jackson 10 * 2 To M r Fozard 25 * † 3 To M r Fletcher 50 * To M r Manton 56 10 5 To M r Hanson 50 * 9 To Mr Johnson 34 * † 11 To M r Fletcher 50 * ———— 4995 11 3
HOARE LEDGER 24 f 54 [ii]:
Per Contra Cr..
1812 Oct r 31 By Claughton & Parr & C o & Dorien & C o 5000 Nov 26 By J Green 50 1813 June 5 By W W Viney & J Hanson 110 7 10 7 By 200 Ex Bill d e 3 Feb at 3 Prem & Bro 203 9 2 By 1200 do " 22 Dec at do & do 1227 10 1 ————— 6591 7 1
——————————————————————————————————
NOTES: DEBITS: Nov 10 (i): S.B.Davies: in 1808 Scrope Berdmore Davies of King’s College Cambridge had guaranteed the loan Byron raised for his Eastern Tour. (ii): John Hanson was Byron’s family solicitor. He too had an account at Hoare’s. This £1,500 is a deposit on the Rochdale tithes. See credits for June 5th - 7th 1813. Byron to Hanson, January 2nd 1813: I now write principally to apprize you of my having drawn on you for £105 - a draft will be presented by Mr. Hobhouse & if the Credit is inadequate now in yr. hands I authorise you to take from the £2000 now at Hoare’s ... (BLJ III 6). Feb 1: Lord Oxford: complaisant husband of Byron’s lover, Jane Elizabeth, Countess of Oxford. This payment is rent for Kinsham Court on Oxford’s estate, where the affair was in part conducted. Mr Dollman (sic): a hatter; he supplied the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of York. Feb 3: Mr Sheldrake made Byron’s surgical boots. Feb 4: Mr Newman: a silversmith. Feb 6: Mr Smith : Byron’s Nottingham banker. Feb 10: Everett: Byron’s coachman. Feb 11: Love and Kelty: jewellers by appointment to the Crown. This cheque is for aquamarines and topaz - as DLM guesses (198 - 199) for Lady Oxford. Richard Johnston (sic): a swordsmith. Feb 16: Finn and Johnson: tailors. Feb 18: Captain George Anson Byron: inherited the Baronetcy on Byron’s death. Feb 19: Mortimer & Co: gunsmiths by appointment to the Crown. Feb 22: Miss Massingberd: her mother, Byron’s former landlady at 16 Piccadilly, had negotiated between him and various moneylenders; in May 1811 she had been arrested for debt. Mar 6: Mr Hicks: a moneylender, of Hicks, Spring and Thorpe. Mar 12: Mr Richold: a restauranteur. Mar 13: Robert Rushton: Byron’s young Nottinghamshire servant. Joe Murray : Byron’s old Nottinghamshire servant. Byron to Rushton, February 24th 1813: As you & Mr [Joe] Murray have not received any money for some time - if you will draw on me for fifty pounds (payable at Messrs. Hoare’s Bankers Fleet Street) & tell Mr J. Murray to draw for the same sum on his own account - both will be paid by me. - (BLJ III 21). Mar 26: William Fletcher was to be Byron’s valet for the rest of his life. He receives more cheques from Byron than anyone else. Apr 24: Francis Hodgson: Cambridge friend of Byron, ordained in 1812; in all, Byron lends him £1,520 (see BLJ IV 259). Apr 28: Mr Lane: a coachmaker. May 4: Bayman: Byron’s footman. May 13: Mrs Elizabeth Terry kept The Turf Tap hostelry in Grosvenor Place, Knightsbridge. May 20: Mr Reeves: a tax-man, with responsibility for the Nottingham area. June 1: “Gentleman” John Jackson: heavyweight champion of England, and Byron’s boxing-instructor. He also supplied sword-sticks. June 2: Mr Fozard: a friend of Miss Massingberd’s who negotiated with Byron on her behalf; see BLJ X 74. June 3: Joe Manton: a gunsmith and shooting-gallery owner. June 9: J. J. Johnson dealt in swords; the receipt is for “4 Swords & Janassary Knife”. CREDITS: Oct 31: The account was opened on this date. Thomas Claughton had just “bought” Newstead Abbey. The £5,000 credit with which the account opens is half of his first instalment - all he was then able to pay. Byron to Hanson, April 17th 1813: I shall follow your advice & say nothing to our shuffling purchaser but leave him to you & the fullest powers of Attorney which I hope you will have read on my arrival in town next week. - - . I wish the arrangement with Hoare to be made immediately as I must set off forthwith ... (BLJ III 39). June 5th - 7th : these three sums are the deposit on the Rochdale tithes, returned with interest. 4
HOARE LEDGER 24 f 55 [i]:
The R.. t Hon.. ble Lord Byron Dr..
1813 Bro t over 4995 11 - June 18 To M r Dolman 105 * 24 To M r De Vick 10 * 29 To W Pulsford 25 * † July 6 To Mr Murray 150 * 10 To Self 4500 12 To W Fletcher 100 * 14 To Hanson’s Bill 2840 To M r Love 300 17 To M r Fozard 50 * 19 To M r Corbett 50 * 23 To M r Philips 52 10 * Aug 3 To M r Murray 100 * 5 To M r Davies 800 * 6 To M r Love 100 * To Doubloons 299 15 7 To M rs Mears 207 * † 11 To W Fletcher 900 * 16 To Geo e Leigh 1000 18 To Miss Massingberd 50 * 26 To M r Fletcher 50 * Sept 1 To do 50 * 6 To do 25 10 To M r Holmes 30 * 15 To O Mealey’s Bill 17 14 6 16 To M r Fletcher 150 * 23 To M Ridge 45 Oct r 5 To W Fletcher 17,002. 10. 6 100 * 15 To Wedderburn & Co for Fn s Wedderburn Webster 500 * 21 To W Webster 500 22 To O Mealey 100 26 To Mr Edwards 500 * Nov 1 To M r Hodgson 40 * 6 To Mason 40 * 22 To Mr Martin 185 * Dec 1 To Mr Hickes 81 * † 18 To M r Dallas 50 * 1814 Jan 7 To M r Love 65 * 17 To Mr Whinay [Whenay??] 120 To Mr Baxter 500 * ———— 19783 10 6 5
HOARE LEDGER 24 f 55 [ii]:
Per Contra Cr
1813 Bro.. t over 6591 7 1 July 19 By T Claughton 7500 27 By do 7500 . 21,591 7 1 21,591 7 1
Lr: 30 F.. o 155.
—————————————————————————————————— NOTES: DEBITS: June 29: William Pulford (sic) was by appointment supplier of cloaks to the Crown. July 6: John Murray , Byron’s publisher. Byron to Douglas Kinnaird, March 6th 1819: ... you will also recollect that nearly three thousand pounds were paid to him [Hanson] late in 1813 or early in 14 - for which the receipt is in my papers at Whitton ... it is also in my Banker’s account then Messrs Hoare’s Fleet Street (BLJ VI 101; see also VI 79). July 14 (i): Hanson is borrowing this sum for the deposit on a house in Essex (BLJ IV 275) (ii): this cheque is probably for seven of Love & Kelty’s gold snuff-boxes. July 19th: Mr Corbet[t] may be a relative of Lady Falkland, who thought Byron wanted to marry her. June 29: Pulsford & Serjeant were manufacturers of waterproof camblets to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York: they specialised in army camping equipment. July 23: Thomas Phillips (sic) was a portrait-painter. This sum is an advance on the portrait now at John Murray’s. Aug 7: Elizabeth Mears was Byron’s landlady at 4 Bennet Street St. James’s. Aug 11: this enormous cheque for Fletcher is almost covered by several three-figure receipts. Aug 16: Colonel George Leigh was the husband of Byron’s half-sister Augusta. This is a gift to help them out of the Colonel’s racing debts. Sep 10: Mr Holmes was a portrait painter; Byron thought his was the best Byron portrait of all. Sep 15: Owen Mealey was the estate-manager at Newstead Abbey. Sep 23: Mr Ridge was the Newark printer responsible for Hours of Idleness . Oct 15 and 21: James and Frances Wedderburn Webster were a couple in whose personal affairs Byron was often involved. These two sums are loans, which were never repaid. Byron to Hanson, October 10th 1813: Dear Sir - I am disposed to advance a loan of 1000 £ to James Webster Wedderburn Webster Esqre. (sic) of Aston Hall York County - & request you will address to me there a bond & judgement to be signed by the said as soon as possible. - Of Claughton’s payments I know nothing further - and the demands on myself I know also - but W[ebster] is a very old friend of mine - & a man of property - & as I can command the money he shall have it - I do not at all wish to inconvenience you - & I also know that when we balance accounts it will be much in your favour - but if you could replace the sum at Hoares from my advance of two thousand eight hundred in July - it would be a favour ... (BLJ III 139). Oct 26: John and Thomas Edwards were clothiers. Nov 6: Charlotte Mason kept a livery stable. Nov 22: Mr Martin let boxes at Covent Garden. Dec 18: R.C. Dallas was Byron’s cousin, to whom he gave the copyright of Childe Harold I and II . He was the uncle of George Anson Byron; this gift is to help equip his son for the army. Jan 17: Mr Baxter was the coachmaker responsible, inter alia , for Byron’s Napoleonic carriage. CREDITS: July 19 and 27: these two sums (£15,000) are the remainder of Thomas Claughton’s £20,000 deposit on Newstead Abbey. 6
HOARE LEDGER 30 f 155 [i]:
The R.. t Hon.. ble Lord Byron Dr..
1814 Bro. t from Lr: 24 F.. lo 55 19783 10 6 Jan 25 To W Baldwin 50 * Feb 15 To W Francis 50 To M r Bowman [Bonman??] 50 Mar 28 To Mess rs Hoare for Discount 29 18 5 To Scrope Davies 4804 12 4 † May 23 To M r Murray 24768. 1. 3 105 27 To do 52 June 2 To R Newman’s Bill 250 6 To W Fletcher 100 * 8 To Miss E Douglas 75 * To J.Jackson 35 * 13 To Mr Borge 75 [12s] * † 14 To W Sawbridge 210 3 * 18 To R Thomas 45 22 To W Fletcher 100 * 25 To Mr Hammersley 105 27 To Mr Angelo 50 * July 2 To T Earnshaw 127 11 6 † 11 To Sir W Knighton 52 10 * 21 To W Fletcher 150 * Aug 3 To Capt Byron 25 11 To Mrs Tayler 150 To Rev d J Hodgson 80 To do 50 17 To Mr Angelo 65 * 22 To W Fletcher 100 * Sep 10 To Love & C o’s Bill 300 24 To M r Bonman 150 To O Mealey 450 † [14 rcpts] 28 To B Hutchinson 27670. 5. 9 70 Oct 10 To Love & Co’s Bill 300 13 To M iss Leverit’s [Lewant’s??] 50 14 To Mr Baxter 250 † 15 To Mr Jackson 25 * 24 To W. Fletcher 50 * 25 To Miss Francis 50 * 28 To Sir W Knighton 60 * To W. Fletcher 150 * 29 To G. Hick’s 81 31 To W J Luxmore’s Bill 95 7 —————— 28851 12 9 7
HOARE LEDGER 30 f 155 [ii]:
Per Contra Cr..
1814 Bro... t from Lr: 24 F.. o 55. 21591 7 1 Mar 28 By Bills disc’d 3620 7 25211 14 1 Apl 7 By Bill on J Murray 40 May 18 By Jn o Hanson on Wainhouse & C o 621 4 20 on Dorrien & C o 58 9 24 on Bidefield & C o 400 June 1 on Robinson & C o 300 4 on Clark & Sons 156 10 on Lloyd & C o 756 13 15 [By Jn.. o Hanson] on Perring & C o 2000 21 on Dorrien & Co 86 17 28 on Brooks & C o 1050 —————— 30681.7.1 30681 7 1 —————————— —————————— —————————————————————————————————— NOTES: DEBITS: Jan 25: W.J.Baldwin was in King’s Bench Prison for debt, and wrote to Byron for a petition to the Lords on conditions there. Feb 15: Bowman was a Newstead tenant. Mar 25, Byron to Davies: My dear Scrope - My Bankers (Messrs Hoare) will discount some bills of Mr Claughton’s today to the amount required & I peremptorily hope the whole will be adjusted tomorrow & transferred to you (BLJ XI 162; see also IV 86). This is the final payment on the debt incurred on Byron’s part when he went East in 1809 (see Burnett 93). Byron to Murray, 28th April 1814: I do not think that I have overdrawn at Hammersley’s - but if that be the case I can draw for the superflux on Hoare’s ... (BLJ IV 108: he has just ordered Murray to cease publication of his poems, an order he rescinds a few days later). Byron to Augusta, May 9th 1814: My dearest A - I enclose you Hammersley’s answer - I have money at Hoare’s & more coming in soon - so don’t mind me - you can’t be off of this sum now - & I heartily hope it may be useful - and adequate to ye occasion. - Now - don’t “affront” me by any more scruples - (BLJ IV 115 - 116; see below, note for December 20th 1815). Byron to Murray, 24th May 1814: Dear Sir - The note at 2 months paid to my accounts at Mess[rs]. Hoare’s (Fleet Street) will do very well ... (BLJ IV 117; the payment is for the Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte ). June 13th: Mr. Borge made telescopes. June 14th: Colonel Sawbridge , a friend of Hanson’s partner Birch, had lent Byron £6000 prior to his departure East in 1809. June 18: Mr Thomas was a moneylender. June 27: Mr Angelo was a fencing-master. July 2: Thomas Earnshaw was a timepiece-maker; the receipt specifies “a Box timekeeper”. July 11: Sir William Knighton was the Prince Regent’s doctor; Byron was another of his patients. Aug 11: Mrs Tayler was Francis Hodgson’s mother-in-law. For this loan, see BLJ IV 213. Byron to Hobhouse, September 14th 1814: ... I am pretty well in funds - having better than £4000 at Hoares - a note of Murray for £700 (the price of Larry [Lara] ) at a year’s date last month - and the Newstead Michaelmas will give me from a thousand to 15 - if not 1800 - more ... (BLJ IV 171). Sep 28: Benjamin Hutchinson was a surgeon of Southwell. Oct 25: Eliza Francis was a poetess. Byron handed her this cheque in the middle of a conversation about the subscription for a volume of her poetry. See DLM 486 - 487. Oct 31: William Luxmore was a surgeon of Southampton Buildings. CREDITS: May 20 and June 21: Dorrien, Magens, Dorrien and Mello of 22 Finch Lane, was Claughton’s bank. June 15: Sir John Perring, Shaw and Barber were bankers in Cornhill. The previous ten credits total £8000, and are two more instalments (£3000 + £5000) from Claughton for the purchase of Newstead. July 28: Brooks, Son and Dixon of 52 Chancery Lane were John Murray’s bankers. The £1050 (1,000 gs) is a cheque from Murray, postdated from May 14. It is the copyright for the Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte . 8
HOARE LEDGER 30 f 156 [i]:
The Right Hon.. ble Lord Byron Dr..
1814 Bro t over 28851 12 9 Nov 29 To W Fletcher 50 * Dec 6 To M r Ward 197 * 8 To J Burrows Bill 99 12 6 * † 10 To Love & C o’s d o. 479 15 † 21 To M r Holland 45 * 23 To M r Chambers 21 To W Fletcher 200 * 30 To Farquhar & C o 26 15 6 1815 Jan 26 To M r Davidson 120 27 To M Hawke 105 Feb 4 To J Hay 105 Apl 11 To W Fletcher 30 300. 15 9. 100 * 15 To Randall & C o 257 * 22 To W Fletcher 31 10 26 To Sir W Knighton 21 * May 1 To M r Cawthorne 15 * 2 To M r Constable 500 To Mess rs Hoare for Discount 9 9 10 6 To W Fletcher 25 * 8 To W Everett 30 * To F Stanhope 105 * To Mr Constable 7 19 10 To W Fletcher 50 18 To Mr Thorogood 30 6 19 To J Hanson 234 14 9 June 3 To M r Reeve 15 18 4 * 22 To W Fletcher 10 * To M r Monkhouse 16 * 24 To M r Fletcher 25 * 27 To Mr Bunsters 5 5 * To Mrs Rigsby 35 18 1 28 To J Woodgate 54 * To J Rockwell [Rodwell??] 18 16 29 To W Fletcher 50 * July 7 To do 10 * 26 To Mr Jackson 10 * Aug 30 To W Fletcher 35 Sep 7 To do 32003. 12. 9. 100 * 13 To Mr Hicks 81 * To W Fletcher [for Lady Byron] 20 * —————— 32204 12 9 9
HOARE LEDGER 30 f 156 [ii]:
Per Contra Cr..
181<4/>5 Bro. t over 30681 7 1 Apl 5 By 62 ¾ Doubloons 54 oz 9 Pists at 1011 274 19 4 May 2 By S Smith & C o 99 3 6 By Bill on Brooks & C o disc t 700 22 By Cash 400 24 By Smith P & C o 250 June 17 By do 149 3 10 32554 13 9 —————— 32554 13 9 . ——————
—————————————————————————————————— NOTES: DEBITS: On Nov 3 Hanson pays £75 to “Mr Fletcher”. Dec 6: Mr Ward let boxes at Drury Lane. Dec 8: J. Burrows was a bookseller . Dec 21: Mr Holland was the proprietor of the Cocoa Tree club. Dec 30: Farquhar , Finch & Co were estate agents. This is the last payment before Byron’s marriage, on January 2nd 1815. Feb 4: Byron to John Hay (a cousin who had bet him he would marry in time) January 26th 1815: Dear Hay - Enclosed is my draft for your hundred guineas on Messrs. Hoares Fleet Street (not Lombard Street where there is another synonymous cash-shop but not mine) - let me have an answer certifying safe receipt per post ... (BLJ IV 260: in the letter previous to this Byron calculates his debts to total hardly less than thirty thousand ). Jan 27: M[artin] Hawke (see Medwin 166) had also bet, in 1808, that Byron would eventually marry. On Feb 9 Wanley Sawbridge’s banker acknowledges receipt of £420 from Byron. Byron to Hobhouse, February 11th 1815: I propose to pay all debts - & pending these to lodge the superflux - but not in any one Banker’s hands - but two or three - Hoares - Kinnairds - and Hammersleys - or any other worthy personages. - - (BLJ IV 270). Apr 15: Randall was a wine merchant, and a particularly “insolent” creditor; see BLJ IV 118. May 1: James Cawthorne had published English Bards and Scotch Reviewers and Hobhouse’s Travels . May 18: Thorogood was a debt-collector. June 22: Monkhouse was an apothecary. CREDITS: April 5: “Pists” stands for “Pistoles” (one pistole = half a doubloon). May 2: the Brooks cheque is a promissary note for £700 from John Murray for the copyright of Lara (see BLJ IV 171, quoted above, 14 Sep 1814). May 2 and 24, June 17th: Samuel Smith was Byron’s Nottingham banker (see BLJ IV 293, quoted next). The oldest county banker in the country, he drew on his head office, Smith, Payne and Smith, of George St London. These three sums (£500 app.) are Newstead rents. Byron to Hanson, May 22nd 1815: ... some immediate step must be taken to compel the remaining tenants to pay their rents ... Perhaps Smith had better remit to Messrs Hoares the payments already made (BLJ IV 293; see also IV 298 - 299). 10
HOARE LEDGER 30 f 157 [i]:
The Right Hon.. ble Lord Byron. Dr..
1815 Bro t.. over 32204 12 9 Sep 25 To Mr Ward 200 * Oct 4 To W Everett 46 * 21 To W Fletcher [for Lady Byron] 100 * 23 To do [for Thorogood] 100 * 24 To Mr Tournier 18 8 * 25 To Mess rs Hoare for Discount 5 3 11 31 To Mr Thorogood 200 * To Mr Angelo 12 * Nov 2 To Cap t G Byron 25 * To Mr Thorogood 30 * 6 To W Fletcher 150 * 9 To J no Hurley 22 19 * 11 To Mr Armstrong [cheque stub has Baxter] 263 * to do [cheque stub has Armstrong] 12 13 * 13 To Mr Murray 10 * 24 To Union Club 11 11 * 25 To M r Le Count’s Bill 30 29 To M r.Angelo 35 * Dec r 5 To M r. Fletcher 20 * 14 To G Thorogood’s Bill 220 20 To M rs Leigh 70 * 28 To W H Mortimer’s Bill 53 8 6 30 To Mr Maturin 50 * 1816 Jan 2 To Mr Watiers 15 * To Lady Byron 400 * 8 To Mr Bell 11 17 13 To Mr Murray 20 * To Mr Margaret 21 * To W Fletcher 10 * 16 To Lady Byron 300 * To Mr Holmes 21 * 24 To J Minns 50 * 25 To Mr Le Mann 65 * 27 To Finn & Co’s Bill 108 4 6 31 To M r Manton 56 * † Feb 2 To Royal Society 32 11 * To G Thorogood’s Bill 220 7 To Mr Fletcher 30 * 10 To Mr Denour 350 * † 21 To M rs Leigh 200 * ————— 35 800 8 8 11
HOARE LEDGER 30 f 157 [ii]:
Per Contra Cr..
1815 Bro. t over 32554 13 9 Sep 16 By Jn o Hanson Stamp ded d 14 4 32568.17.9 Oct r 11 By do on Pope & C o 70 17 21 By do on Everett & C o 100 25 By 2 Bills discounted 1050 Nov 13 By Jn o Hanson on J Oldham 90 Dec 19 By do 5200 ————— 39079 14 9 35800 8 8 —————— 3279 6 1
Lr: 41. F.. o 336. —————————————————————————————————— NOTES: DEBITS: Sep 25: another booking for a box at Drury Lane with Mr Ward. Oct 24: Mr Tournier sold medals. Nov 9: John Hurley was an attorney of Hanover Square. Nov 11: Armstrong and Crooke valued Byron’s library prior to its sale in April 1816. There could be an error here, as the cheque-stub (see below) records £263 as being paid to Baxter, the coachmaker. Nov 25: Mr Lecount was a sadler. Dec 20: Mrs Leigh was Augusta, Byron’s half-sister. This is the first of four payments, totalling £720, which she receives from Byron before he leaves the country (see above, note for May 9th 1814); the others are on February 21st, March 4th and April 11th 1816. Dec 30: Charles Maturin was an Irish playwright whose play Bertram was soon to be a great success at Drury Lane. Byron to Maturin, December 21st 1815: I am sorry to hear - [you] have been unfortunate in this “best of all possible worlds” but who has not? - Enclosed is a draft on my Banker (Messrs Hoare’s Fleet Street - not the Lombard St. H[oare]’s) for fifty pounds - will you excuse my taking so great a liberty as to offer you a loan - you can repay it at your own time & leisure ... (BLJ IV 337). Jan 2: Mr Watier kept a high-class restaurant in Covent Garden. Jan 13: Mrs (probably intended) Margarot was the widow of a transported Corresponding Society member for whom a subscription was being raised. Jan 2 and 16: Lady Byron left Byron to visit her parents on January 15th, and never returned to him; as part of the marriage-settlement she received £300 per year pin money, which may account for the January 16th sum. Jan 24: Jane Minns was Lady Byron’s maid on the honeymoon at Halnaby in Yorkshire. Jan 25: Dr Francis Le Mann had attended Lady Byron’s labour on December 10th; he was treating Byron, too, although Lady Byron scouted his opinion of her husband’s sanity. Feb 2: On this day Byron heard from his father-in-law that Lady Byron wanted a separation. The sum to the Royal Society may be the settlement of a dinner-bill at the Royal Society Club. Feb 10: James Denour was agent for the Duchess of Devonshire. The sum is payment for the rent at 13 Piccadilly Terrace. CREDITS: Oct 21: Everett, Walker, Maltby, Ellis and Co was a bank in Mansion House St. Oct 25: the £1050 (one thousand guineas) seems to be another Murray copyright payment; but there were no new titles from Byron at this time. It could be a postdated or delayed cheque for The Bride of Abydos : the sum is correct. Dec 19: this £5,200 is part of Annabella’s marriage portion, raised by her father by the sale of a farm at Moulton, N Yorks. 12
HOARE LEDGER 41 f 336 [i]:
The R.. t Hon.. ble The Lord Byron. Dr..
1816 Feb 26 To Mr Phillips 52 10 * † Mar 1 To Hiron & King 450 * † 2 To Mr Coleridge 100 * 4 To M rs Leigh 50 * 8 To M r Sheldrake 20 17 * 11 To M r Murray 23 * 13 To M r Goldsmith 12 12 * 14 To M r Holmes 32 * 19 To Mr Murray 20 22 To Mr Constable 213 * Apl 11 To M rs Leigh 400 * 15 To G Hicks 81 17 To D r Polidore 30 * To Baxter & C o 315 * † To M r Holmes 35 * 18 To M r Edwards 200 * † 19 To Hammersley’s Circular Notes & Stamps 2504 7 6 20 To M r Jackson 15 * To D r Polidore 52 To D o 100 * To M r Berger 10 * 22 To M r Love 200 * To D r Polidore 150 * To M r Le Mann 50 * To M r Newman 200 * † 23 To W Fletcher 81 * To D o 10 * To W Grevett 15 * 24 To Sir W Knighton 10 10 * To J Bayman 22 * 26 To M r Hurley 22 19 * To M r Fletcher 75 * May 13 To Lord Sinclair 45 Oct r 31 To Hentsch & C o 5597. 15. 6 50 Nov r 19 To Do 220 Dec r 5 To Do 107 5 11 —————— 5975 1 5
The last four items do not appears in Byron’s Hoare account book. They post-date his departure from England on April 25th. 13
HOARE LEDGER 41 f 336 [ii]:
Per Contra Cr..
1816 By Balance bro. t from Lr.: 30..F. o 157 3279 6 1
Mar 9 By Bills on Drummond & C o 150 † Apl 13 on Ogles & Co 450 † May 15 on J C Dalbine’s Int 1045 15 4 † June 1 on Brooks & Co 500 † July 2 on J Murray 550 † ————— 5975. 1. 5. 5975. 1..5.
—————————————————————————————————— NOTES: DEBITS: Mar 1: John Hiron and Samuel King , moneylenders. Mar 2: Mr Coleridge is Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the poet; the sum is a gift. Apr 17: Dr. John William Polidori (sic) had been picked by Byron as his travelling physician; this is his wages for the first quarter. Apr 19: this sum is transferred to the Hammersley account to finance Byron’s projected continental tour. Apr 20: Berger was Byron’s Swiss travel-courier. Byron to Hobhouse, May 1st 1816: Will you have the goodness - to get at my account at Hoares - (my bankers) I believe there must be a balance in my favour - as I did not draw a great deal previous to going: - whatever there may be over the two thousand five hundred - they can send by you to me in a further credit when you come out ... (BLJ V 73 - 74). May 13: Lord Sinclair: it is not clear whether or not this person is related to George Sinclair, Byron’s gifted Harrow friend, or to his father, Sir John. Byron to Hobhouse, May 26th 1816: There is an epistle from Hoares who tell me they have given in an account to you of my banking concerns: - I hope you saw or will see (as I believe I locked up my draft book in my desk & you cannot get to it) the drafts at Hoares - which I drew immediately previous to my departure - as the holders might possibly take advantage of my absence to alter or play tricks with them - they being Servants or tradesmen - & not much use to resist temptation ... (BLJ V 78). Oct 31: Hentsch and Co were Byron’s bankers in Geneva. Dec 5: on this date the account was closed. CREDITS: March 9: Andrew B. Drummond, John, Charles and Co were George III’s bankers, at Charing Cross. June 1 and July 2: the £1050 is two cheques 14 from John Murray, postdated from March 29. They are for the copyrights of The Siege of Corinth and Parisina , published together on February 13th 1816. 15
Three Financial Problems
Thomas Claughton and Newstead Abbey. The Abbey was put up for auction on 14th August 1812 at Garroway’s Coffee House, but bought in after the penniless Hobhouse had forced the bids up to £113,000. Byron had wanted £120,000. The offer of £140,000 by the Lancashire lawyer Thomas Claughton, of Haydock Lodge near Warrington - (AR 197 says it was made two weeks later: II viii says the following day) - was accepted. Claughton bought the estate in August 1812 for £140,000, with an agreement to pay £20,000 by way of deposit (£10,000 by 31 October 1812 and £10,000 by 25 December) and a further £60,000 in instalments by August 1815. On 31st October 1812 Byron’s account with Hoares records a payment of £5,000 from “Claughton & Parr & C o & Dorien & C o” and on 19th and 27th July 1813, two payments “By T Claughton” of £7,500 each. The final £60,000 was to remain on a mortgage, on which Claughton was to pay interest. Only when he had paid the first £80,000 was he to have “possession”. On paying the £5,000 in October 1812, he questioned Byron’s “title” to the Newstead estate - on 24th May 1813 Byron wrote of him as a “scoundrel” (III 29). This problem was not resolved until June 1813 (hence the two further payments of £7,500 each in July 1813, to complete the £20,000 pounds - Claughton completed the deposit seven months late). Meantime, during the first half of 1813, Byron had no income. After July 1813 the transaction with Claughton remained on course, and in spring 1814 he made two further payments, one of £5,000 and one of £3,000 (these appear in the Hoare’s credits as ten separate bills paid between May 28th and June 21st). But then there was a major falling out between Byron and Claughton. In July 1814 Claughton, whose wife had born a son on 8th January, said that he would have to withdraw, and asked for a meeting with Byron’s solicitors (IV 139 - 143). With the payments now behind schedule, Hanson negotiated for Claughton to do so - hence the forfeiture on 20th August 1814, when Byron signed the papers which freed Claughton from his contract: he forfeited £25,000 (IV 150, 152, 190, 216, 258). However, Claughton saw this merely as a prelude to renegotiating the contract at a lower price (since he had offered too much in the first place), and in autumn 1814 Byron gave him this option - see Byron’s letter to him of 4th September and 1st October 1814 (IV 165 - 166 and 188) speaking as if his purchase is still a possibility. On 8th December 1814, a month before their marriage, Byron told Annabella that Claughton’s final offer of £92,000 had been refused, but in fact it was accepted (with amendments) and negotiations continued until April 1815. On 11th February 1815 (IV 270) Byron wrote to Hobhouse that Claughton was about to complete: see also letter to Hanson, 18th February (IV 273). On 26th March 1815, Byron told Claughton that he felt free to look elsewhere for purchasers. In April Byron and Hanson finally broke with Claughton and put Newstead back on the market. After it failed to sell, Claughton came back with a further offer, to rent the house and home farm until he could afford to buy the estate, and to buy all the furnishings in the house. Byron agreed to this, but there is no evidence in the Hoare’s account of when he paid any money. On 13th October 1815 Annabella reported a plan whereby Claughton was to have the furniture of Newstead for £1,200, and to take the house for a rent (LBW 320); and there are letters in the Murray Archive from mid-1815, late 1815, and even February and March 1816, indicating that the people on the estate still don’t know who’s in charge, and are complaining of Claughton’s neglect. Byron wrote from Geneva on 28th August, doubting - as if the matter were still in contention - whether Claughton would be able 16 to resume the purchase (V 89). Eventually, when Newstead was again put on the market in 1817, Claughton offered to meet any price which might be offered, but was, at last, ignored. On 1st February 1814 (IV 43 - 44) Byron mentions to Hanson the rumour that Claughton is not the real purchaser, but is merely the agent for Chandos Leigh (1791 - 1850) the poetaster and Holland House associate of himself and Hobhouse; but the rumour is never repeated. Claughton was married to the illegitimate daughter of Thomas Legh (sic) from Lyme, Lancashire, and the name may have been misunderstood when overheard. There was a lot of haggling over extras. Claughton had proposed allowing Byron to keep only the books and pictures, but had to let the plate, linen, glass, firearms, swords and sabres, wines and liquors go too (AR 197: see II 190, 231, 234). Claughton did not pay the estate workers as he should have, although he did send two of his pointers to be looked after. He also sent furniture to the Abbey for storage, and paid Owen Mealey’s salary - at least up to February 1813 - although Robert Rushton’s and Jo Murray’s salaries was still being paid by Byron: each received £50 from him on 13th March 1813. In October 1813 Claughton arrived at Newstead, ordered Mealey to cut and thin the plantations, and forced open the door of the wine-cellar (III 139). He put new tenants in place, and new stock, which injured the property. He installed an overseer called Paling, an enemy of Mealey, who would allow Joe Murray nothing for expenses. In June 1815 a property valuer and agent called Bolton was called in by Byron, and forced Joe Murray to open the wine-cellar again, from which he helped himself over a period of a month (AR 213). Byron received the news of the sale of Newstead to Thomas Wildman on December 10th 1817. Hanson arrived in Venice, with the purchase papers, on 11th November 1818. Claughton, who was MP for Newton, Lancashire, from 1818 to 1825, seems to have had a penchant for creating financial problems for himself and others. In 1816 he bought the reversion of the Cardiganshire estate from Thomas Johnes, but, as with Newstead, never completed; in 1821 he contracted for the purchase of the Bolesworth Castle estate in Cheshire. He was declared bankrupt on 5th March 1824, five weeks before the death of Byron, and again on 24th October 1838. He died in 1842. One of his sons was Bishop of Colombo (DNB, and R.G.Thorne, The Commons 1790 - 1820, Secker and Warburg 1986).
The Marriage Settlement. Sir Ralph Milbanke owed Byron £20,000 on account of the marriage settlement. Annabella’s portion was £16,000 by the terms of her parents’ marriage settlement, and Sir Ralph agreed to supplement this by £4,000 in view of the generous settlement Byron proposed to make on Annabella. The £20,000, together with £60,000 from Byron (to be raised from the sale of Newstead) was to go to trustees for Lady Byron’s potential jointure and the portions of any younger children. The losses incurred from bankruptcies by Durham and Sunderland banks left Annabella’s family short of ready cash. Sir Ralph’s finances were such that he could afford only £6,200, leaving £13,800 secured on Halnaby at 5 per cent interest. Unfortunately he did not pay the £6,200 either, but Byron was probably more annoyed by the absence of the £690 interest on the £13,800 from which Lady Byron’s pin money was due to be paid (Byron paid this in January 1816). A complicated arrangement was made by which Sir James Bland Burges and Lord Henley, as Noel trustees, would borrow on mortgage from Lord Melbourne and advance it to Byron. 17
There was difficulty, however, on raising a mortgage on an entailed estate (LBW 321). Byron had still not received the £6,000 he expected from Sir Ralph by the end of 1815. Byron’s irritation with his in-laws is not surprising under the circumstances, but in December 1815, with bailiffs at the door, Hanson negotiated a deal to release this £6,200 to Byron, which is why his finances take a turn for the better at this juncture, even if only £5,200 appears in the Hoare’s credits. This added significantly to Byron’s financial anxieties and to his unpredictable temper at the time of his separation from Annabella (LBW 327, Gross 304 - 305).
“[Byron] had hoped to delay the wedding, knowing that Newstead Abbey and his Rochdale estates could not be sold and that Annabella’s father was also in financial straits. Lady Melbourne urged him to proceed with the marriage and did not help matters by renting the overpriced mansion at 13 Piccadilly, which attracted creditors who thought Byron was now in a position to pay his former debts” - Gross 338.
Thomas Noel, the second Viscount Wentworth, died without legitimate issue on 17th April 1815, and his estate at Kirkby Mallory went, together with half his personalty, to his sister Lady Milbanke - LBW 301. “Soon after the wedding, her [Annabella’s] mother had inherited the large fortune of Lord Wentworth which would eventually come to her; so, although her father was in debt and unable to procure ready money, she had the sense of security natural to those who have never personally known difficulties” - AR 208. By the terms of the marriage settlement, Byron was to share equally with Annabella in the income from the Noel estates after his mother-in- law’s death - LBW 313.
Hammersleys. This bank had provided Byron with letters of credit when he went abroad in 1809, presumably reflected in the December 1811 overdraft, and payments outstanding from his earlier travels (hence payments to Gibraltar and Malta), although it is clear that he opens a new account in 1812. What is also interesting is that he arranges in August 1813, and then cancels in November, £3,000 travel expenses. This was the proposed trip which went wrong when he fell for Augusta! It is a shame that the account book does not cover the same period as the cheque stubs, particularly as there is obviously a substantial sum (c. £4,600) left in April 1814 which goes ... where? The Hammersley account does not seem to balance at the end of 1812, and the £1,000 transferred to Hoare’s on 8/11/1813 does not appear in the Hoare’s account. This is probably the payment to Hodgson. The £4,500 from Mrs Byron’s estate in July 1813 is interesting: if it really is the final payment on her Scottish estate, it shows what a lucrative month July 1813 was for Byron.
In his correspondence Byron took a perverse view of his finances, and this can only be spotted by reading the replies to his letters (not printed by Marchand). He seems to have thought that it was unbecoming of a literary man to discuss sordid financial business, hence his throwaway comments to Lady Melbourne and others in relation to Annabella’s fortune - he knew perfectly well she was an heiress - or to Hodgson about his visit to Rochdale in 1811, or his apparently decisive break with Claughton in December 1814 which was nothing of the sort.
- Peter Cochran and John Beckett 18
2) Financial material in the John Murray Archive relative to the account with Hoare’s
1: CHEQUES ON HOARE’S BANK
* An asterisk indicates that the amount in the entry is confirmed by the account with Hoare’s, even though the payee may differ.
BYRON OPENS ACCOUNT WITH HOARE’S, OCTOBER 31ST 1812
Chequebook 1 (22 cheques):
[1813] £52.10{s}0{d} * Opera ticket [in fact to Lord Oxford, for the rent on Kinsham Court on the Oxfords’ estate, where Byron and Lady Oxford met] February 1st [1813] £139. - * to Dolman [hatter] Feby 3d 42£ * [to Mr Sheldrake, surgical boot manufacturer] Feby 4 100£ * [to Mr Newman, silversmith] Feby 7th 35£ * [to Mr Smith, a Newstead tenant] £15 * [to Everett, B’s coachman] Feby 10th £112 * Mr Love [jeweller] Feby 10th £33.12{s} * [Mr Johnston, swordsmith] Feby 11th £43.19 * [to Johnson & Co - perhaps the above] Feby 13th £19 [Mortimer & Co, gunsmiths] Feby 15th £50 * [to Mr Finn, tailor] £20.0.{s}0.{d} * [to Captain George Byron] Feby 18th £20 * [to Miss Massingberd] March 5th £20 * [to Mr Lisle, unidentified] £81. - * [to Mr Hicks, moneylender] March 7th £25 * [to Miss Massingberd] March 8th £ - 16 - * [to Mr Richold, restauranteur] Mch 25th £100 * [to Fletcher] Mch 25th £.300 [mysterious] Ap 28th £100 * [to Mr Lane, coachmaker] £25 - * [to Miss Massingberd] May 1st. £31 * [to Mr Richoli or Richold, restauranteur] May 4th £84 - * [to Mr Werball, unidentified] 19
Chequebook 2 (22 cheques):
May 4th 1813 50 * [to Fletcher] May 4th £15 - * [to J. Bayman, Byron’s footman] May 8th 1813 10 * [to Mrs Terry, hostess of the Turf Tap] May 18th 1813 31 * [to Mr Reeves, tax-man] May 24th <25><21>25£ * [to Mr Fozard, friend of Mrs Massingberd] May 24th £50 * [to Fletcher] May 25th £100 * [to Mr Love, jeweller] May 26th 10 £1 * [to Mr Jackson, pugilism instructor]
Chequebook 3 (24 cheques):
July 22d 1813 £52-10-10 * to Mr Philips [portrait-painter] July 31st 1813 £100 - * [to Murray] August 4th 1813 £100 * Mr. Love [jeweller] August 5th 800£ * S.B.Davies &c.& c.&c. [longstanding debt] August 7th 1813 £ - 207. - * To M [r] s. M [ea] rs [landlady] August 11th 1813 - £900 * [to Fletcher] August 14th 1813 £50 - - * [to Miss Massingberd] August 25th 1813 £150 - M[assing] B[er] .d. [Fletcher] August 30th 1813 £30 * Mr. H [olmes]. [portrait-painter] August 31st £50 to Mr H [Fletcher?] Septr 6th 1813 £25 * O[wen] . M [ealey] . [Newstead manager] Septr 15th 1813 £50 * For self - [in fact to Fletcher] Octr 2nd 1813 £100 * for myself - [in fact to Fletcher] Octr 20th £500 - * W[edderburn] W[ebster] Esq Octr 26th £500 * Mr Edwards [tailor] Octr 29th £40 * Mr H [odgson] - Novr 4th £40 * Mason [livery stable] Novr 22d 1813 £185 * For my box at C [oven] t Garden - [in fact to Mr Martin] Novr 30th 1813 81- £ to Annuity - [in fact to Mr Hicks] £50 * to M r. Dallas Jany 6th 1814 £65 * to M r. Love Jany 10th £50 * Mr Baldwin [a debtor in prison] Jany 14th 1814 £120 * to M rs . M [ear] s for Mr A [nge] l[o] [in fact to Mr Whenay] £500 * To Mr Baxter [coachmaker] 21
Chequebook seems missing here: but see Hammersley cheques and stubs, listed below, pp. 21 - 22.
Chequebook 4 (67 cheques):
30 May 1814 £210.3.0 * To W Sawbridge Esq to pay him ½ a year’s to Ann. y [moneylender] June 1st 1814 75£ * To M r Borge [telescope-maker] June 6th 1814 £35 - * To M r. Jackson [pugilist] June 6th £100 * For my own expenses - [in fact to Fletcher] June 7th 1814 £75 * to Miss. D. [Miss E Douglas, unidentified] June 10th 1814 £45 - To Savages [??: to R. Thomas] £105 to Watier’s. - [Covent Garden restaurant] June 17th £100 * [to Fletcher] June 25th 1814 £50 * to Angelo. - [fencing master] July 3d £52.<0/>10 * to Sir W[illia] m Knighton [physician] July 19th. 1814 £150 * [to Fletcher] August 14th 1814 £65 * To Mr A. [ngel] o [fencing master] Aut 20th. 1814 £100 * To - Self - [in fact to Fletcher] Oct 13th 1814 £250 * to Mr. Baxter. - [coachmaker] Octr 14th 1814 £25 * [to Mr Jackson, pugilist] Octr 20th £50 - * To - Self [in fact to Fletcher] Octr 24th. 1814 £50 * To - E [liza] . Francis - [poetess] Octr 26th 1814 £60 - - * To Sir W[illiam]. K. [nighto] n [physician] Octr 28th 1814 [£150] * To self [in fact to Fletcher] Novr 28th 1814 £50 - * [to Fletcher] Decr 2d £197 * To Mr Ward for Box at Drury Lane Decr 16th £45 * to Cocoa tree Dec r. [in fact to Mr Holland] Decr 18th 22 - <17 - 6> * for Cider - [?? in fact to J.Burrows Bill] Decr 23d £200 * Self - [in fact to Fletcher]
BYRON AND ANNABELLA MARRY, JANUARY 2ND
April 10th 1815 £100 * to self. - [in fact to Fletcher] April 12th 1815 - £15 * to Mr Cawthorne [publisher] April 15th 1815 £257 * to Messrs Randall & Co - [wine merchant] April 20th 1815 £3<2/>1 - 10 - 0 S[crope] . D [avies] . April 21st 1815 £21= * to Sir W[illiam] . K [nighton] . [physician] April 21st 1815 £105 * a bet to [F] St[ anhop] .e - [unidentified] May 2d 1815 £ - 50 - * [to Fletcher] May 2d 1815 £30 * to {the} Coachman [to W.Everett] May 4th. 1815 £25 - * to asst Fletcher in. May 29th 1815 £10 - * to Self - [in fact to Fletcher] June 1st 1815 £15 - 18[s . 4d] * to Mr. Reeve - for Taxes. - - - June 16th 1815 {£}18 - 18{s} to Bookbinder 22
BATTLE OF WATERLOO, JUNE 18TH
June 20th 1815 16£ * to Monkhouse Apothecary - June 23d 1815 £25 - * To - Tho. [Fletcher] June 26th. 1815 £5 - 5 - 0 * To Pusilton [?? - Bunsters] June 27th 1815 £54 - 0{S}- {D}- * To Notto Thupur [?? - J.Woodgate] June 27th 1815 £50 - * To Self [in fact to Fletcher] June 6th [sic] £10 -* To Fletcher July 25.th £10 - * to Waterloo [in fact to Jackson] August 30th 1815 £35 - * To Self. - [in fact to Fletcher] Septr 5th 1815 £100 - * to Self. [in fact to Fletcher] Septr 9th 1815 £81 - * To Mr Hicks. [moneylender] Septr 11th £200 - * To - Private Box - [in fact to Mr Ward] Septr 12th £20 * to Pip. - [Lady Byron - in fact to Fletcher] Octr 2d £46. - * Coachman [to W.Everett] Octr 20th 1815. £100 - * to
1: the size of the sum inclines one to credit the stub rather than the ledger for this entry. 23
Chequebook 5 (24 cheques):
Jany 6th. 1816 £20 - * To D.L. [in fact to Murray] Jany 9th 1816 £21 * To M rs . M [argarot] ’s subscription -. [widow of transported Corresponding Society member] Jany 9th 1816 £65 - * To Le. M [ann] . [physician] Jany 11th. £50 - * To [Jane] Minns [Annabella’s maid] Jany 12th £10 - * to Self - [in fact to Fletcher] Jany 13th £21 - - * To M r. Holmes [portrait painter] Jany 15th £300 * To Lady B [yro] n. [here a stub is torn out]
ANNABELLA LEAVES BYRON, JANUARY 15TH
Jany 26th £32. [11s] * To Roy [a] l. Society Jany 31st 1816 £56 - * To Manton [gunsmith] Feby 1st £30 - * To Self [in fact to Fletcher] Feby 8th £350 * to M r Denour for House - Feby 9th £52 - 10 * To M r Philips for picture [portrait painter] Feby 12th 1816 £100 - * To {M r} Coleridge [Samuel Taylor: “loan”] Feby 21 £200 - To M rs Leigh - for home expenses March 1st 1816. - £450 * to Hiron’s annuity paid off. - March 4th £50 * to Self [in fact to Augusta] March 4th £23. - * To - Armstrong & Crook. [in fact to Murray] March 6th £20 - 17s * To M r Shel. [drak] e [surgical boot maker] March 9th £20 - * To J. Murray - 9th March 32£ * to M r Holmes - [portrait painter] March 13th £12 - [12s] [to Mr Goldsmith] March 26th 1816 213 - - To - M r Constable - [unidentified] April 10th 1816 £400. - to Self [in fact to Augusta] 24
Chequebook 6 (19 cheques):
April 16th £35 To M r. Holmes) [portrait painter] April 16th £30 To D r. Polidori [physician] April 16th £315. to M r. Baxter [coachbuilder] April 17th £200 - To M r. Edwards [tailor] April 17th £15. - Mr J no . Jackson [pugilism instructor] April 19th £52. - to Guineas [in fact to Polidori] April 20th £100 - To Self [in fact to Polidori] April 20th £10 - To Berger [Swiss travel courier] April 20th £200 To M r Love [jeweller] April 20th £50
BYRON LEAVES ENGLAND, APRIL 25TH
BYRON’S ACCOUNT WITH HOARE’S CLOSED, DECEMBER 5TH 25
BYRON’S ACCOUNT WITH HAMMERSLEY’S BANK, PALL MALL
Hammersley, Greenwood, Drewe and Brooksbank was at 76 Pall Mall. Hammersley had been an original partner in Morland and Ransom at 56 Pall Mall - Douglas Kinnaird’s bank. Hammersleys was taken over by Coutts in 1840, and their records destroyed.
1) HAMMERSLEY CHEQUES: * indicates corroboration from a cheque stub.
The account at Hammersley’s pre-dates these records. DLM (p.162) refers to a request from them dated December 11th 1811 that Byron would pay off his overdraft.
1812
Mar 2 Mr Davies £150 * Mar 5 Mrs Massingberd £150 * Mar 24 S Davies Esq £94 [10s] * Mar 24 W Fletcher £10 *
1813 (compare 1813 stubs list on next page)
Nov 18 Mr Murray £ 50 * Nov 11 W Fletcher £50 * Nov 14 (?) Miss Massingberd £50 * Dec 7 W Fletcher £ 50 * Dec 13 W Fletcher £100 *
1814 (compare 1814 stubs list on next page)
Jan 4 W Fletcher £10 * Jan 17 W Fletcher £30 * Jan 17 W Fletcher £150 * Feb 10 Mr Stevens £120 * Feb 11 Mr Hodgson £100 * Feb 21 Joseph Baynam £26 * Feb 21 Mr Waite £15 * Feb 21 W Fletcher £100 * Feb 26 Miss Massingberd £100 * Mar 8 W Fletcher £48 * Mar 12 W Fletcher £50 * Mar 13 W Fletcher £ 20 * Mar 17 Jackson £15 * Mar 24 Mr Luxmore £200 * Mar 28 Mrs Mears £198 [3 9] * † Mar 29 Mr Jno Murray £10 * [£70??] Mar 31 W Fletcher £150 * Apr 14 Mr Jackson £18 * Apr 23 Mr Hiron £100 * 26
2) HAMMERSLEY STUBS * indicates corroboration from a cheque.
1813
Nov 8 transferred to Hoare’s £1000 Nov 14 blank [in fact to Fletcher] £50 * Nov 18 Mrs Massingberd £50 * Dec 7 blank [in fact to Fletcher] £50 * Dec 13 blank [in fact to Fletcher] blank [£100]*
1814
Jan 4 blank [in fact to Fletcher] £10 * Jan 17 Coachman’s wages [in fact to Fletcher] blank [£30] * Jan 17 For Self [in fact to Fletcher] £150 * Feb 10 Mr Stevens £120 * Feb 11 H[odgso] n £100 * Feb 22 Mr Waite £15 * Feb 27 Bayman his wages £26 * Feb 27 for [self] [in fact to Fletcher] £100 * Feb 26 [blank] [Miss Massingberd] £100 * Mar 8
3) HAMMERSLEY ACCOUNT BOOK
Hammersleys Greenwood Drewe and Brooksbank Dr. - in Account with Lord Byron p1, lhs:
1812 Feb 25 Cash 500 Mar 23 do 100 p1, rhs: Contra
1812 Mar 2 Davies 150 [interest on loan] 7 Massingberd 150 20 Davies 94.10 [interest on loan] 25 Fletcher 10 July 2 Paid Servants at Gibraltar by Ross & Co as pr Re t June 3 20 (Re t) Aug t 26 do pr do 119 . 9 . 8 543 . 19. 8 —————————————————————————————————— p2, lhs:
1812 Amount 600
[diagonal]
1813 Jan 1 Balance 53 . 18 . 4 July 10 Cash 4500 [Mrs Byron’s estate] Nov 10 Cir r Notes 3000 cancelled 7553 18 4
p2, rhs:
1812 Amount 543 . 19 . 8 Dec 29 Postage “ 15 Commn 1 Pr Ct 139 . 9 . 8 Credits @ Malta 1 7 31 Balance 53 18 4 600 “ “ 28 p2, rhs (contd) :
1813 Aug 4 W Thomas for 9 Oz Doubloons @ 109 / pr oz 49 1 [for travel] Circular Notes & Stamps 3004 10 [for travel] Nov 10 Fletcher 50 3103 11 —————————————————————————————————— p 3, lhs:
Amount 7553 18 4
[diagonal]
p 3, rhs:
Amount 3103 11 Nov 10 transf d to F Hodgson 1000 15 Massingberd 50 “ Ridgway 133 14 9 18 Murray 50 Dec 7 Fletcher 50 13 do 100 31 Balance 3066 12 7 7553 18 4 29 p4, lhs:
1814 Jan 1 Balance 3066 12 7 [diagonal] p4, rhs:
1814 Jan 6 Fletcher 10 10 RC Dallas 225 17 Fletcher 150 “ do 30 Feb 11 F Hodgson 100 14 Stevens 120 23 Bayman 26 Fletcher 100 28 Massingberd 100 Mch 8 Fletcher 48 11 Waite 15 19 Jackson 15 25 Luxmoore 200 29 Mears 198 31 Murray 10 1347 —————————————————————————————————— p5, lhs:
1814 Amount 3066 12 7 Murray 225 July 9 p5, rhs: Amount 1347 Apr 1 Fletcher 150 “ do 20 5 do 50 16 Jackson 18 23 Hiron 100
[The rest of the book is blank. There are no entries for 1815 or 1816.] 30
BYRON’S COPYRIGHTS (incomplete)
TITLE DATE SUM RECIPIENT
Childe Harold I & II 14th April 1812 500 gs Dallas The Giaour 25th May 1814 500 gs Byron The Bride of Abydos 25th March 1813 1,000 gs (Wise has £525) Byron The Corsair 4th January 1814 500 gs Dallas Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte 14th May 1814 1,000 gs Byron Lara (+ Jacqueline) 5th August 1814 1,000 gs (Wise has £700) Byron The Siege of Corinth & Parisina 29th March 1816 1,000 gs Byron Manfred 7th October 1816 300 gs Byron The Prisoner of Chillon December 1816 not recorded (Wise has £315 to Byron) Childe Harold III January1817 1500gs Byron Childe Harold IV 28th April 1818 2,000 gs Byron Beppo 28th February 1818 500 gs Byron Mazeppa 28th June 1819 500 gs Byron Don Juan I and II 15th July 1819 £1525 Byron The Lament of Tasso 17th July 1817 300 gs Byron Don Juan III - V 8th August 1821 £1525 Byron Marino Faliero 21st April 1821 1,000 gs Byron Sardanapalus, Cain, The Two Foscari 19th December 1821 £2170 (Wise) Byron Werner 23rd November 1822 [wasn’t paid??] Byron 31
CHEQUES FROM MURRAY TO BYRON
May 25 1814 1000 gns cashed 28 July 1 Mar 29 1816 500 gns post-dated two months, cashed 1 June 2 Mar 29 1816 550 gns post-dated three months, cashed 2 July 2 (Apr 4 1821 550 post-dated three months, cashed 24 July)
1: Copyright cheque for Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte . 2: Copyright cheques for The Siege of Corinth.
BYRON ON HIS DEBTS
To The Rev. J.Becher, March 28th 1808: Entre nous , I am cursedly dipped: my debts, every thing inclusive, will be nine or ten thousand before I am twenty-one (BLJ I 163)
To Hobhouse, January 26th 1815: ... out of debt must be my first object - and the sooner the better, - My debts can hardly be less than thirty thousand - there is six thousand charged on N[ewstead] to a Mr Sawbridge - a thousand - to Mrs. B[yron] at Nott[ingha]m - a Jew debt of which the interest must be more than the principal - & of which H[anson] must get an amount from Thomas - another Jew debt - six hundred prin[cipa]l - and no interest (as I have kept that down) to a man in New Street - I forget his name ... (BLJ IV 259)
To Hanson, December 11th 1817: The first step in the event of a satisfactory conclusion will be the liquidation of my debts; - the list of annuities sent by Mr. Kinnaird including Jews and Sawbridge amounts to twelve thousand eight hundred & odd pounds ... (BLJ V 278)
Marchand’s note to a letter to Kinnaird, September 5th 1819 , after the sale of Newstead for £94,554 3s 1d: After the Marriage Settlement Trust of £60,000, Sawbridge’s Annuity of £6,000, and “Mortgage for part of Lady Byron’s fortune paid off and advanced to Lord Byron on the Mortgage”, £6,200, were subtracted, there remained a surplus of £22,300 for the payment of debts ... Byron’s total debts came to £28,162 ... (BLJ VI 222: see below).
... tradesmen with long bills, and longer faces, Sigh as the Postboys fasten on the traces. -
They - and their bills - “Arcadians both” - are left To the Greek Kalends of another Session; Alas! to them of ready Cash bereft What hope remains? - of Hope the full possession, Or generous draft, conceded as a Gift, At a long date - till they can get a fresh one Hawked about at a discount small as large; Also the Solace of an Overcharge. -
But these are trifles ... (Don Juan XIII, 44 - 46) 32
TWO BILLS 1) August To Acc t of a Bill deliv’d for Wines &c sent to Cambridge & £439..6..8 1811 Newstead Abbey August To Acc t Interest due on the above 50..2..4 £489..9..” My Lord When we did ourselves the pleasure of waiting on your Lordship in Town you were so good as to say it would
Byron to Hanson, May 27th 1814: My dear Sir / - I have received the enclosed letter from Mr Randall to which I add my answer - if not actionable send it - his letter is without exception the most insolent I ever heard of ... (BLJ IV 118)
2)
My Lord, we are favored with yours and - which is by no means satisfactory - this debt being larger - and - a three years running account - the common interest exceeds - any profit - that can be gained on the articles sold your L d.Ship —————————— we mentiond before that this debt is due to the old firm of Love & C o - and - we were obliged - to pay the amount of it to the partner that retired from this concern last xmas - which makes it an extreme hard case - on us-;- we - are unwilling to inconvenience your L d.ship - yet you must see - the absolute necessity of its being - arranged - and which - we confidently hope - you will - do - this acct we - are willing to take bills - on your agent - or any thing in order to bring it to a close. - - we have the honor to be Your Lordships - Obliged & Obedient Servts Love & Kelty Old Bond St - May 19 1814 The Rt Honble Lord Byron
Ballance of acc t £1079 = 15 = 9
Byron to Murray, February 25th 1817:
... You perhaps know Mr. Love the Jeweller of old Bond Street. - In 1813 - when in the intention of returning to Turkey - I purchased of him - and paid (argent comptant) about a dozen snuff boxes of more or less value - as presents for some of my Mussulman acquaintances. - These I have now with me. The other day - having to make an alteration in the lid of one (to place a portrait in it) it has turned out to be silver-gilt instead of Gold - for which last it was sold & paid for. - This was discovered by the 33 workman in trying it before taking off the hinges - & working upon the lid. - I have of course recalled & preserved the box in status quo. - what I wish you to do is to see the said Mr. Love and inform him of this circumstance adding from me that I will take care he shall not have done this with impunity. - - If there is no remedy in law - there is at least the equitable one of making known his guilt - that is - his silver-gilt - and be damned to him. - - I shall carefully preserve all the purchases I made of him on that occasion - for my return - as the Plague in Turkey is a barrier to travelling there - at present - or rather the endless Quarantine which would be the consequence - before on could land in coming back. - - Pray state the matter to him with due ferocity. (BLJ V 173)
Byron to Murray, April 2nd 1817:
... So Love has a conscience - by Diana! - I shall make him take back the box though it were Pandora’s; - the discovery of its intrinsic silver occurred on sending it to have the lid adapted to admit Marianna’s portrait - of course I had the box remitted in Stau quo - & had the picture set in another - which suits it (the picture) very well. - The defaulting box is not touched hardly - it was not in the man’s hands above an hour. (BLJ V 203)
Byron to Murray, April 2nd 1817:
... I remit to you to deliver to Mrs Leigh two Miniatures - but previously you will have the goodness to desire Mr. Love (as a peace offering between him & me) to set them in plain gold - with my arms complete - and “painted by Prepiani - Venice - 1817” - on the back. (BLJ V 212) 34
BYRON’S ACCOUNT WITH JAMES RIDGEWAY
Ridgeway was a Piccadilly bookseller. In 1795 he had been imprisoned for selling The Rights of Man . He also published, and one of his titles was Hobhouse’s Letters from Paris (1816). In 1822 he and his son considered and rejected the idea of publishing Don Juan when Murray could no longer do so. (Below, horizontals indicate page-turns).
First Bill)
Rt Hon ble Piccadilly The Lord Byron To J Ridgeway
1808 Decr 31 Balance of Acc t 14.1.2. 1809 Cobbetts Jan r to June 25 1.14 2 o o Janr 16 portage /6 Oracle d to d 4/12/- 4.14.6 23 Hollingshead Chrons 6V. 12.12 Memoirs de Grammont 2.5 33/- Cobbetts Debates Vol 1 ti 11 unb d 18.3 ————— Parliamn t Hist 4 V. 6.6 Halfbinding ditto Hf Russia 16 Cœleb in Search of a Wife 12 27 Carrs Tour in Scotland 1V 4to 2.2 British Essayists 45 V Cpg t &c 16.16 31 Printing Song & c & paper 18 Feb 2 Newspaper extra 6 8 Roscoe’s Leo the tenth 4 V.4th 6.6 ——— Lorenzo de Medici 1.7 19 Poetry of the Antijacobin 6 25 Aikins Ann l Review 1.1 Mch 2 England & Wales 9 V.b do 9.12.6 Case & c 1.16.6 7 3 Engl h Bards & Sh Rev rs 10.6 9 Lord Somers’ Tracts Vol 1 3.3 Colman’s Broad Grins 6 10 Cumberland’s John de Lanch r 1.1 11 English Bards & Sc h Rev rs 3.6 Parkes Chem l Catech m 12 13 Taylor’s Travels 2 V. (1) (a 2 nd Copy) 16 Carried Over 108.1.2
(1): Travels from England to India in the Year 1789 by Major John Taylor (???? - 1808) is a book with much to answer for. At I 115 - 123, it tells how Spridion Foresti, when Assistant to the English Consul at Zante, boarded a ship called The Grand Duchess of Tuscany and saved her and her £80,000 cargo, by single-handedly shooting and overpowering the pirate who had captured her. It was Foresti who persuaded Byron to go and visit Ali Pacha in Albania. There are references to the book in Hobhouse’s diary entries for September 9th 1809 and February 17th 1810. For Byron’s sale of it in 1816, see CMP 242. 35
—————————————————————————————————— brought Over 108.1.2
1809 Mch 14 Burns’s Works 5 V. 2.6.6 16 qr Copy paper 2.4 h rs 3 6 17 E.B & S Rev /6 poems /- Mr Hanson 9.6 British Theatre 25 V bd extra 19.19 20 Pursuits of Literature 1 V. 15 Case & c 8 28 Bland’s Poems 9 Pailey’s Philos r & M g Post 14.6 Apr 17 Smith’s Atlas 3.8 Chronicle & Heber’s Europe 2.6 Mun Parkers Travels 2 V 5.5 May 2 Studies of Nature 3 V 2.2 Robinson Crusoe 2 V 14 Gullivers Travels 3.6 7 Cobbett’s Par l Hist Vol 5 1.11.6 9 Madden’s Juvenal 2 V 18 17 Baviad & Maviad (large paper 15 Lady Jane Grey (Mr Hobhouse 10.6 25 Lettres et pensees du Marchal 2 V 10 Cappers Travels 12 Forsters Travels 2 V 16 12 Mr Hobhouse’s ‘Essay’ 2.8 30 plate & 100 Cards 10.6 June 2 Miss Edgeworth’s Tales 3 V 18 V Review part 2 5 9 Barrow’s China 4 to 2.12.6 Dallas’ Constantinople 4 to 3.3 2 Cases & c 2.10 Cobbett’s Debates Vols 12, 13 & 14 4.19 Carried forward 167.19 ————————————————————————————————— 36
brought forward 167.19
1809 Lord Somers’s Tracts Vols 2 & 3 6.6 June 12 Lettres of the Prince de Ligne 10 Arithmetic & Key 8 Oak Case with Lock hands & c 1.19.6 16 Jackson’s Travels 4to 2.2 Elegant Extracts (1) 3 V Cp gt 3.18 Selections from Gents Mag 1.16 Carey & Paterson’s Roads 1.4 28 Case & c 13.6
(1): On November 4th of this year Byron’s Greek hosts take him for a philosopher when they see how often he consults this book. It contains extracts from The Faerie Queene , in part an inspiration for Childe Harold .
July 2nd 1809: Byron leaves for Portugal
1810 July 25 Hurts France 5/- E.Grey Sp h 3 /- 8 Walch n Exped n 6/- Obr and & 5/- 11 Sir P Francis on Bullion 2.6 3 r Trials at Madras /6 Pol of Barlow 6.6
July 14th 1811: Byron returns to England
1811 July 15 Sir J Sinclairs Code of Health 2.8 2 10 Treatise on Corpulence /- P. lugine /6 12.6 16 Edinb Review 35 6 19 Wharton on y e W rks of Pope 16 2 21 24 Scourge /6 Curiosities of Lit 2 V. /- 1.3.6 Montaigne’s Essays 3 V 2.10 Starks Works 4to 13 Cobbetts Debates Vols 15,16 & 17 4.19 Lord Somers’s Tracts Vols 4 & 5 6.6 21 4 29 Blackets Remains 2 V. /- L of Elives /6 1.5.6 Goldsmith’s Cabinet of Buon 16 Cobbett’s Parliamentary Hist y 6, 7 & 8 4.14.6 £214.16 37
Second Bill)
Right Hon ble Piccadilly Lord Byron To Jas Ridgeway
1812 Chronicle Jan y 1 to December 31 9.4 Jany 8 Debates Vols 18 & 19 3.8 14 Barbauld’s Novelists 50 V Cpgt 18.17 The Alien Guide 3 31 Monthly Review & Appendix 5 Feb 17 Les Ouvrages de St Simon 5.5 Debates Vols 20, 21, 22 & 23 hf b d 6.16 Cobbett’s Mch 7 to Dec r 31 2.7
March 10th 1812: Childe Harold I and II published
Mch 17 100 Cards 3.6 20 1 “Childe Harold (M r Davies) 1.10 21 Court Calendar Hard case 7 24 2 Childe Harold (M r Rogers 3. 1 ditto (Miss Abercromby 1.10 Ap 1 Scourge 2.6 1 Childe Harold 1.10 Binding d o blue Morocco extra 2 8 Town Talk N o 4 2.6 22 2 Papers extra 1.1 Discount of 268£ for 3 M ths 3.7 28 Grangers Biography 4 V 2.8 Nobles continuation 1.16 May 4 Edinburgh Review 38 6 carried over 64.8.7 —————————————————————————————————— brought over 64.8.7
1812 May 2 Hooks Roman History 11V 5.15.6 Langhorns Plutarch 6 V b ds 3.3 June 1 3 Reviews 7.6 2 Anc t Brit h Drama 3 V cpgt 4 5 Fords Plays 1.10 Wycherleys d o 10 8 Massingers d o 3.3 Edgeworths Tales 4, 5 & 6 1.1 17 Clarkes Travels Vol 2 4.4 18 Edinb Rev 38 & 100 Cards 9.6 24 Murphys Tacitus Cpgt 5.8 Hardy’s Life of Charlemont 1.1 July 3 History of Female Sex 4V 1.8 9 Carters Epictetus 2 V 16 38
Memoirs of M r de Bareith 1.1 10,20,26 Npapers 1.7½ Colman’s Vagaries 1.1 Paperknife 2 Whig July 25 to Dec r 31 1.1.1 24 Nicolls Literary Anecdotes 6.6 Stuarts Sallust 4 to 4.12 Augt Remarks on Corpulence 2 Carried forward 111.11.9½ —————————————————————————————————— brought forward 111.11.9½
1812 Aug 11 [ ] Hist. 9,10, 11 & 12 6.6 Binding hplnss - 5 to 12 of d e 1.12 Sep 1 Edinburgh Review 39 6 Decr 3 Rolliad 16 12 Town Talk 2.6 Edinburgh Review 40 6 Parliamentary His y Russia 1.11.6 hpbinding ditto Russia 4 Lord Somers Tracts 6,7 & 8 9.9 £132.4.9½ June 9th Childe Harold 4to (Mr W.Webster 1.10 138.14.9½ 39
BYRON’S AND HOBHOUSE’S EXPENSES ON THE EASTERN TOUR [Hobhouse’s hand] in pencil: Childe Harold reduced to £ s - d - £. S. D. From Town to Falmouth 6. 0. 0. Posting from ditto to ditto 54.10.0 At Wynne’s Hotel Falmouth 29.6.5 Waiter & Chambermd. at ditto 5.7. Boats there - 2.0.0 Additional bill at Wynne’s Hotel 3.2.11 100.<5/>.<10/>6
£.S.D. 2) 100.<5/>.<10/>6 50.3.3 To the account of each . . . .
To Lord Byron’s account at Falmouth £. S. D. Bedding & linen f
To account of J.C.H. at Falmouth £.S.D Bed & linnen 12.5.0 Carriage of Trunk from London 1.9.2. Passage to Lisbon 21.0.0 34.14.2 ......
£ S D account of L d B before leaving England 50.3.3. 97.6.8 147.9.11 account of. J.C.H. ditt. ditt. £.S.D 50.3.3 34.14.5 84.17.5 at Lisbon £ £. s. d Lost by exchange on 200 27.4.4 The half of this sum 13.12.2 Dollars at {£}4.(s}6 each common expenses at Lisbon & journey to 503 ½ Gibraltar £ s. d. £ s In Pounds Sterling <143.16.9.> 119.18.6 40 side 2: L d Byron’s account at Lisbon & thence to Gibraltar Dollars To his servants 5 of them & their bills { at Barnwell’s Hotel, Lisbon { 104
The surgeon of the Lisbon packet 24 A stiletto 8 a cockd hat at Lisbon 13. Pistol finding at Venda 6 Hat at Seville 5 ditto at Cadiz 8 Books Gibraltar 9 Pocket money Cadiz 40 217 <£.S.D.> £. S. D. In Ps. Sterling <59.5.6> 53.15.0 A red coat at Gibraltar <13.14.0> 11.2.3 Passage to Malta self & Fletcher <38.7.6> 38.7.6 account of J.C.H. at Lisbon & thence to Gibraltar 103.5.6 Dollars Pocket money 6 Two books at Cadiz 3 A Spanish Piece 2 Gloves 1 Books at Gibraltar 4 Handkerchiefs Gibraltar 3 A present to a boy 8 D’Amville’s Geography <8/>6 Red coat at Gibraltar 30 65 In pounds sterling £.S.D £.S.D <17.0.7> 15.0.0 Passage to Malta <26.5.0 .> 26.5.0 <43.5.7 > 41.5.0 Expenses of L d Byron from Lisbon to Malta £. S. D. £. S. D. Lost by exchange at Lisbon 13.12.2 13.12.0 Half of common expenses thence to Gibralt 86.8.2 59.14.0 Private account ditt to ditto 1<0/>1<5/>1 17.0 103.5.6. Half of common expenses at Gibraltar 54.1.0 43.12.10 Present to servant, Bob. R. 17.5.0 17.5½ Passage of servants from Lisbon to Gib 30.0.0 30.0 Passage of ditto from Gib to London [col.del.pencil] 111.1.7 378.19 11½ 41 side 3: Ld. B. from & at Smyrna to & at Constantinople Piastres Private expenses buying paying serv ts &c&c ...... 7553 Half of common expense 3307 = = 1653 2 Total - 9206
J.C.H from & at Smyrna to leaving Constantinople Piastres Tailor. Share of inn bills & other private expense 855 Half of Common expense 1653 Total 2508
Lord Byron’s total acct for the Tour £ S D Before leaving England 147.9.11 From Lisbon to Malta 378.17.11½ Malta to Patrass both inclusive 231.4.4½ 757.13.6 5 From leaving Patrass to Smyrna 5328 Piastres 17 /8 = 1£ 1 e At Smyrna & Constantinople 9206 at 16 /8 16½ & 17 y/ 1£ 14534 £ s d Piastres Total 757.13.6 + 14534 ------J.C.H’s account for the whole tour £ S D Before leaving England 84.17.5 At & from Lisbon to Malta 157.19.0½ Malta to Patrass both inclusive 182.15.7½ 425.12..0 1 From leaving Patrass to Smyrna 4240. Piastres 17 /8 = 1£ 1 At Smyrna & Constantinople 2508 at 16 /8 16½ & 17 = 1£ 6478 £ S D Piastres Total 425.12.0 + 6748
42
BYRON’S AND HOBHOUSE’S EXPENSES IN SPAIN [hand unidentified]
1809 Lord Byron & J: C: Hobhouse Es qr July 26 - Acct Del: d allowing 26 Dol rs . Rec d. Of Mr.H: } 216 Dollars at 800 rs . each } 172.800 27 th A Combrush 240 At Seville (1) Dinner 4. 000 Waiter 400 Cleaning & Hats 300 Repairing a Sword 750 28 th Milk 240 pd. Washing 2. 200 in Carriages from Seville to Alcala (2) 8 Horses 6. 000 ∧ Coachmen 1. 200 Lodging at Seville 4. 000 Servant ″ 800 2 Carriages from Alcala to Utrera (3) 8. 200 Coachmen 1. 200 Porters at Utrera ″ 220 29 th . Beds & Dinner 4. 000 Servants 600 6 Horses from Utrera to Torres (4) 4. 200 2 Guides 1. 200 5 Horses from Torres to Cuerbo (5) 3. 900 2 Guides 1: 200 Bread ″ 280 pd. 2 posts together from Cuerbo to port } St Mary 8 Leagues & 4 Guides } 11. 550 6 Dinner at Xeres (6) 4. 000 Waiters ″ 800 Galego at Cadiz (7) ″ 320 Do at M rs . Woods ″ 320 Wine at D o ″ 400 Boat from S ta . Maria (8) 3. 200 23852 . 3.7.51 248.520 [pencil] 238.52 [pencil]
—————————————————————————————————— 1: The party reached Seville on July 25th 1809, and left on the 28th. 2: They passed through Alcala on July 28th. 3: They stayed the night at Utrera on July 28th. 4, 5. 6: They passed through Torres, Cuerba (sic) and Xeres on July 29th. 7: They arrived at Cadiz on July 29th, and sailed for Gibraltar on August 3rd. 8: They saw a bullfight at Puerto Maria on July 30th. 43
Side 2: Bro t. forward 248.520 July 30 th Boat to Bull Fight JD: 5. 600 31 st p d. Boat to Bathe ″ 600 Rhubarb Pills ″ 300 Blacking ″ 180 A Hat J.D: 5. 600 Gloves ″ 960 A Cockade ″ 160 Aug t. 2 d. p d . for Chan[g]ing Saddles Bridles &c ″ 800 6 Cockades 1. 440 pd. Boat to Adm: l purvis (1) ″ 600 At Cadiz paid M rs Baillys Bill (2) 35½ D rs 30. 200 Servants 1. 600 Washing 2. 100 3d Porters &c to the quay ″ 960 pd. Barber at Cadiz ″ 480 4th At Gibraltar a tooth Brush ″ 240 Gave the Steward by order 3. 200 Boat to the Frigate (3) for this passage 1. 200 A Cart for D o ″ 800 305.540
305,,540 rs } Divided by 800 rs .} 382 Dol rs less 40 r s: - 5th Tooth Powder 200 Books 8 p Dol rs 6. 800 Total Rs 312.540 ° Doll rs 385 ¾
Side 3:
382.½ 41 Ld B’s account 3 Mr H’ s account 338
—————————————————————————————————— 1: They dined with Admiral Purvis in the Atlas on August 2nd. 2: They stayed at Bailly’s Hotel, Cadiz. 3: They sailed for Gibraltar in the Hyperion frigate (Caaptain Brodie). 44
PRE-1812 BILLS IN THE MURRAY ARCHIVE
Creditor Date Amount Pre-1812:
J.Semple, picture framers December 18th 1809 9.30 Sheldon & Green, wine merchants (Nott’ham) 1809 22.13.0 Lingford, brushes, knives, etc (Nott’ham) August 12th 1811 34.6.7½d Randalls, wine & brandy 1811 489.9.11 Randalls, wine & brandy 1811 215.0.0 45
Byron’s Tailor’s Bill and other bills, 1812 - 1813
46
Byron’s tailor’s bill, and others, 1812 - 1813
I have printed the largest bill, from Edwards the tailors, in 11p, with others in 12p and square brackets. The Right Hon ble Lord Byron To Jno & Tho s. Edwards 52 Conduit S t. Bond S t. 1812
Jany 24 An Extra Spfine Corbo Pelisse fully } trimmed w h braids, & Sleeves body } 18 & Skirt lined with Silk } Rich Sable Fur Collar Cuffs & trimming 8.4 1 Spfine black Coat 5.15.6 Silk Sleeve linings & pockets 1 29 Altering a black Coat 3 Feb 13 A Pair Patent Web Braces 12 A p r black Silk Stocking Garters 18
[Frameworkers Speech, 27th Feb] [CHP I & II published, 3rd Mar]
March 9 A pr black cloth Trowsers w h Shaps 2.18 13 6 Pair India Nankeen Gaiters 12/- 3.12 23 6 Pair D o. Trowsers 34/- 10.4 Rep of a Pair Trows s. New Straps &. c 5 6 Fine White Quilting Waistcoats 26/- 7.16 Rep of 2 Pair Silk Breeches 4 31 6 Pair India Nankeen Trowsers 34/- 10.4 April 7 6 Fine White Quilting Waistcoats 26/- 7.16 10 12 Pair India Nankeen Trowsers 34/- 20.8 12 Pair D o. Gaiters 12/- 7.4 12 Pair Do. Straps 1/6 18 16 A pair black Cassimere Pant n Trowsers 2.18 Silk facings 3 A Spfine black Coat 5.15.6 Silk Sleeves linings & Pockets 1
[Catholic claims speech, 21st April] [Liaison with Caroline Lamb] ——— Carrd . over 115.18 ——— ———————————————————————————————————— 1812 Bro t. Forward 115.18
June 20 Six p r White Jean Trowsers alt d 6/- 1.16 6 Pair Straps for D o. 1/6 9 12 Fine White Quilting Waistcoats 26/- 15.12 July 1 A spfine Olive Court dress Coat lined } Completely thro’ w h White Silk } 11 25 Elegantly Cut & Highly polished } 47
Steele buttons } 9.7.6 A very rich Embroidered Court dress } Waistcoat } 9.10 A Pair rich black Silk Breeches 3.3
[Two extra bills:
James Milner, tailor and pelisse maker June 7th 1812 89.13 R. Johnston, swords and belts July 7th 1812 19.14.0]
Edwards bill continued:
10 A D o Waistcoat 1.15 Silk back 8 3 Pair Fine White Jean Trowsers 34/- 5.2 14 A rich black Silk Waistcoat 1.15 Silk back 8
[nearly elopes with Caroline Lamb, 29th July]
Aug t 6 2 Pair Tan Leather Gaiters 10/- 1 10 Six pr. India Nankeen Short Gaiters 12/- 3.12
[Newstead put up unsuccessfully for auction at Garroways, 14th August; Thomas Claughton “buys” it later in the month for £140,000]
15 Six Pair White Jean Do 12/- 3.12 19 A spfine black Coat 5.15.6 Silk Sleeve linings & Pockets 1 3 Pair White Jean Trowsers 34/- 5.2 Sept 18 Two Spfine black Coats 11.11 Silk Sleeves linings & pockets 2 2 black Cassimere Waistcoats 2.14 Silk backs 16 4 Pair black Cassimere Trowsers 58/- 11.12 Silk Facings 12 An Extra Spfin Dark brown Peliise } full trimmed w h. Braids & c. & Sleeves } 18 Body & Skirt lined w h. Silk }
[Byron goes to Eywood with Lady Oxford, 24th October]
Carr d forw d. 243.10 ————————————————————————————————————
1812 Brot forward 243.10
Dec 2 Rich Sable Fur Cotton Cuffs & c } trimming } 8.4 4 Putting Strings to 2 p r black Breeches
[Christmas with the Oxfords at Eywood]
48
[Sadler’s bill:
M.Lecount, sadler 31st December 1812 67.1.9]
[Club bill:
The Alfred (David Brooks, Steward) 1813 5.5.0]
Edwards bill continued:
1813
Jan y 25 Two p r. black cassimere Short Gaiters 1.4 A pair Do Breeches 2.2 Silk Facings 3 Putting New Pockets to a black Coat 3 Feb 2 A rich black Silk Waistcoat 1.15 Silk back 8 A pr black Silk Web Gaiters 18 An Extra Springy Corbo Pelisse fully } trimmed w h. braid &. c & Sleeves body } 18 & Skirt lined w h. Silk } Rich Sable Fur Collar Cuffs & trimming 8.4
[Jeweller’s bill:
Love & Kelty, jeweller August 3rd 1813 Feb y 12th Set of very Fine Aquamarine & pink Topaz Ornaments 105 Fine Crysolite & Diamond Broach 63 Interest & Expenses on Bill 16.6 Bal. ce of D o. left unpaid 12.19.6]
Edwards bill continued:
Mar 9 Twelve fine White Quilting Waistcoats 26/ 15.12 24 Pair India Nankeen Trowsers 40.16 12 D o. D o. 20.8 36 D o. Short Gaiters 21.12 12 Fine White Quilting Waistcoats 15.12 24 Pair Fine White Jean Trowsers 40.16 24 Pair D o. Short Gaiters 14.8 2 Pair mixt Single Cassimere Pant n } Overalls } 6. ——— Carried over 459.18 ——— ————————————————————————————————————
1813 Brought forwd. 459.18
May 6 12 pair India Nankeen Straps 1/6 18 24 Pair D o. D o. 1/6 1.16
49
[Coal bill:
Charles Reeve, coalmerchant May 18th 1813 31.16.0]
[Hobhouse leaves for the continent, 27th May] [Byron’s third and last Lords speech, 1st June] [The preparation which Byron now makes for his own second journey abroad (either with Augusta or with Lord Sligo - see BLJ III 23, 85, 87n2, 90, 91 - 92, 93) is strikingly illustrated in the following items.]
[Army equipment bill:
William Pulsford, army equipment June 2nd 1813 25.1.0 A Green Spine Waterproof Camblet Horsmans Cloak with large } Circular Cape, a smaller Cape to form Hood, Velvet Collar } 9.9.0 lining & treble gilt Hooks and Eyes } A Blue Spine Cloth Case for Do 18 A Mixt Waterproof Camblet Cloak [ ] with Balloon & Sleeves 7.7.0 A D o - D o - D o - D o 7.7.0 £ 25.1] [The Giaour published, 5th June]
[Stationer’s bill:
Wells & Lambe, pocket books etc July 1813 Mahogany Dressing {Box} lined rich velvet with Silver Boxes & Compleat 36.15 Mahogany Writing {Desk} wth Secret Draws 5.15.6 Leather Cover to Dressing Box 2. - . - D o to Writing Desk 16.6 Blue Leather Pocket Book 12 Engraving Coronet & Cyp’n Old English 5 46.4.0] Edwards bill continued:
July 1 A Spfine black Coat 5.15.6 Silk Sleeve linings & Pockets 1 7 Two Spfine Imp l. Blue Coats 11.11 Silk Sleeve linings & Pockets 2 Buff Silk body & Skirt lining 30/- 3 57 Gold twist buttons 3/- 8.11 Black Genoa Velvet Collars 8/- 16 A spfine blue Regimental Great Coat } Embroidered } 7 Embroidering D o. 1.10 Silk Sleeve linings & Pockets 1.3 Silk body & Skirt lining 1.16 A Set of Extra Gilt buttons 7.6
[Jeweller’s bills:
Love & Kelty, jeweller July 12th 1813 50
Balance of Acc t to Xmas 637.10 Feb y 12 Set of Fine Aquamarine & pink Topaz Ornaments 105 Fine Brilliant & Crysolite Broach 63 Interest & Expenses on Bill 16.0 May 1 Silver Bracelet D o Case 10.6 July 13 Tooth Pick Case 3.13.6 Gold Watch Key 1.11.6 Bal. ce of 1st Acceptance 12.9.6. 864.11.6 Bro t forward 864.11.6 July 12 Column on Boxs 15 879.11.6 —————————————————————————————————— Love & Kelty, jeweller July 12th 1813 Gold & Enameld Musical Box - with figures Sett with pearls & - 105 Fine Purporeno Box highly Chasd in fine Gold } Fine Blood Stone Ditto } Fine Lapis Lazuli Ditto } Tortoishell Box lind with Gold Chased top lip &c & a painting } a ditto ditto } 210 a d o. Rubylite
[Love & Kelty, jeweller (from bill of August 3rd 1813) July 12 7 Gold Snuff Boxes 315 Gold Watch Key 1.11.6 13 Tooth Pick Case 3.13.6]
[Byron to Moore, July 13th: “I want to get away, but find difficulty in compassing a passage in a ship of war” (BLJ III 75)]
[Military equipment bill:
Bryant’s, military & camp equipage 15th July 1813 395.8 BasKell Canteen Complean Cover and Straps & Brass plate 10.13 Camp Leather Pail Kettles & c 5.10 2nd Pack Patent Bedsteads Compleat Musquito Furniture } with Mallrap Pillow Blanketts & Counterpain } 40 2 Covers for Do & Straps 2.10 3 Patent Bedsteads Compleat 53.11 3 Covers & Straps 3.15 1 Pair Canteens Fitted with Silver Articles pack Furnished 18.18 1 Pair of Elegant Canteens Compleat with Plated & Pines Metal ware 42.5 2 Covers for D & Straps 2.2 Pair of Panniers with Straps to Sling & Padlocks 5.5 4 Large Solid Leather Trunks with Covers and Straps 29.8 51
4 D o D o 25.4 1 Patent Sewn Trunk Cover with Straps 8.8 [ ] of Camp Kettles with Stove in Strong Leather Pail 7.10 2 Military brush Cases 3.16 2 D o Carpet Bags 3.3 Camp Table 2 Chairs in Valise 7 2 Leather Buckets for Horse 1.10 5 Military Pack Saddles & Bridles 30 5 Water Deeks & Cirungles 15.15 6 Pair Extra Luggage Straps 3.3 Hammock Compleat 6.6 30 Brass plates for D 3.10 2 Handsome Military Saddles with Holsters Bare Skin Blouses & } Bridles } 25.4.6. 3 D o D o for Servants - D 34.15.6 [ ] D & [ ] 9 Cases &c 5 395.8] [Gunmaker’s bill:
H.W.Mortimer, gunmaker July 21st 1813 2 Pair plain Steel mounted Pistols with Goler & bolt Locks &c &c Moulds balls & bags 10 gs 21 2 Flasks to contain powder balls & flints 9/ 18 2 Screwdrivers 6/ 100 flints 10/ N o 1351.1352 16 3 Pair small brass mounted Pistols with Goler & bolt Locks 6 G s 18.18 3 P r of Belt springs to D o 12/- 1.16 3 flasks as above 27/ 3 Screwdrivers 9/ 1.16 150 flints 15/ N o1447.1632.1536 15 Pr of best small pistols well cleaned & bell springs fitted 17/½ Hund flints 3 1.2 12 tt powder Magazine & padlock Do filled with the best Powder 3.3 Work to pair of best Duelling Pistols pair of new boults to the Locks pair of Hammer faced & jointed new tumbler screw pair of tumblers completely repaired &c &c 1.10 Pistols cleaned the Barrels neatly repaired work polished & hardened furniture polished & blued & the barrels browned in the best manner 2.2 pair of hair Triggers completely repaired 7.6 Ornamented Magazine Pistol 25 gs 26.5 neat Mah y Case lined with Cloth & apparatus complete 3.13.6 84.2] [Optical instruments bill:
Berger, optical instruments 24th July 1813 6 3 feet portable Telescopes in [ ] 37.16.0 6 Sliding Gold Achromatic Operas 18.18.0 2 Silver hunting Sprung Compasses 7.7.0 a 3 Inch sextant silver Arch, divided to 20” 2/10 2 Telescope 52
in Mahogany Case {for 9.9.0 2 Thermometers in Varnished case approbation} 2.20]
[Weapons bill:
Standenmayer, guns and swords July 24 1813 113.16.6]
Edwards bill continued:
24 2 pair Tartan Trowsers 32/- 3.4 2 pair D o. Gaiters 12/- 1.4 A Tartan Jacket handsomely braided 3.10 Sleeves & body lined w h Silk 2.4 Braiding D o. 1.1 Braids, Olivetts &c 3 A spfine Nash’s Scarlet Staff Uniform Coat } Embroidered } 7.7 58 Embroidered Holes 5/6 15.19 A pair Embroidered Skirt Ornaments 10.6 Ratinett for lining 1 Silk Sleeve linings 12 A Set of Regimental buttons 1 ———— Carr d forw d 547.13.6 ———— ————————————————————————————————————
1813 Brought forward 547.13.6
July 24 A Pair mixt Cassimere Trowsers 2.18 Silk facings 3 Altering a Pair black Trowsers 3 Strappg a p r. Mixt Trowsers & Cassimere } for D o } 7 2 Rich black Genoa Velvet Waistcoats 90/- 9 16 Gold twist buttons 1/6 1.4 A Major’s Spfine Nash’s Scarlet } Uniform Coat laced } 7.7 Lacing D o. 1.1 17 Yds rich Gold Lace 6/6 5.10.6 A Pair Embroidered Skirt Ornaments 10.6 Rattinett lining 1 A Set of Regimental buttons 1 Silk Sleeve linings 12 2 Pair mixt Nankeen Trowsers 34/- 3.8 2 Pair D o. Gaiters 12/- 1.4 2 Fine Chintz Patern Morning Gowns } lined through w h. Calico 80/- } 8 Puttg New Collar Cuffs & buttoning on } Uniform Coat } 1.13 Embroidered Collar & Cuffs 1.10 A Set of Regimental buttons 1 Silk handfacings & pockets 9.6 53
Spfine Cloth 5 A pr Embroidered Skirt Ornaments 10.6 ———— 595.19.6 ———— ————————————————————————————————————
1813 Brought forward 595.19.6
July 29 Cleaning an Embroiderd Reg l. Coat 10.6 6 Pair Leather Gaiters 10/- 3 A spfine blue Jacket handsomely } 5.5 braided } Silk Sleeve & body lining 2.4 Braiding the Jacket 1.1 Braids &. c 3 Rich Sable Fur Collar & Cuffs 4
[Jeweller’s bill:
Love & Kelty, jeweller (from bill of August 3rd 1813) Aug. t 3 Turquoise Head Ring 12.12 Emerald D o 18.18 Gold Watch 31.10 Amt Car d Over 564.11 1813 Amt Bro t Over 564.11 Silver Mount to Cane 10.6 Aug 3 Watch Key 5.5 3 Snuff Boxes 52.10 2 Antique Seals 4.4 Morrocco Case 3.13.6 630.13] Edwards bill continued:
Augt. 4 A Rich black Silk Waistcoat 1.15 Silk back 8 A Regulation Silk Sash No1 3.8 A D o. D o. 2 3.18 A D o. D o. 3 4.8 A D o. D o. 4 3.18 A D o. D o. 5 4.16 48 Gold Filigree buttons 2/6 each 6 22 Silver D o. 5/- 5.10 20 Gold D o. 5/6 5.10 9 very rich Gold Epaulettes 73/6 33.1.6
[On August 4th, Byron’s Hammersley’s account book shows that he pays W Thomas for / 9 Oz Doubloons / @ 109 / pr oz / (£)49 1(s) [for travel] and Circular Notes / & Stamps (£)3004 10(s) [for travel]: now see November 10th below]
[Weapons bill:
54
R. Johnston, swords and belts August 6th 1813 52.0.6]
[Byron to Moore, August 18th: “Ld. S[[ligo]] is in town & we are much embarrassed with ye. plague which is it seems all over ye. Levant - but having been both at a prodigious expenditure in large trunks - small clothes - & small arms for ourselves - snuff boxes & Telescopes for the Mussulman gentry - & gewgaws for such of the Pagan women as my be inclined to give us trinkets in exchange - why - lest so much good preparation should be thrown away - we are determined to go - God knows where - for he is bewildered & so am I” (BLJ III 90).
Edwards bill continued:
28 Altering 6 Pair Nankeen Trowsers 1/6 9 Sept 13 Putting Royale Cord Coops & Strapping } w h Leather 2 p r mixt Pantaloons } 2 Leather for D o. } 14 Nine Pair Russia Duck Trowsers 30/- 13.10 3 Pair D o. Overalls 33/- 4.19 12 Pair D o. Gaiters 9/6 5.14 ———— 714.4.6 To amount of Servants Accounts 175.19.6 ———— 890.4 ———— ———————————————————————————————————— 1813 amo t. bro t. forward 890.4
Sept 25 A spfine black Coat 5.15.6 Silk Sleeve linings & pockets 1 ———— 896.19.6 ———— [On November 10th 1813, the Hammersley account book shows that Byron cancels the order made on August 4th for for Cir r Notes (£)3000 : his plans for travel have been abandoned]
[Byron pays Edwards £500 on 26th October 1813 and £200 on 18th April 1816. In Hanson’s final bill of 1818 Byron is said to have paid Edwards a total of £1,126.19.8] 55
PRE-1812 AND POST-LATE 1813 BILLS IN THE MURRAY ARCHIVE
Creditor Date Amount Pre-1812:
J.Semple, picture framers December 18th 1809 9.30 Sheldon & Green, wine merchants (Nott’ham) 1809 22.13.0 Lingford, brushes, knives, etc (Nott’ham) August 12th 1811 34.6.7½d Randalls, wine & brandy 1811 489.9.11 Randalls, wine & brandy 1811 215.0.0
[now see previous section]
Robert Holland, Cocoa Tree October 14th 1813 42.2.6
[The Bride of Abydos published, December 2nd 1813]
Richold, restauranteur November 21st 1813 44.11.10
1814: [The Corsair published, February 1st 1814]
Love & Kelty, jeweller 1814 Bill Delivered August 3 rd 977.1
[Lara published, August 6th 1814]
Sept r 15 Mounting very large miniature engraving 18.18 Oct r 1 Ruby Diamond Ring 5.5 Serpent Ring with Diamond Head 6.6 Chased Sevan Seal 6.6 Chased Topaz Seal 6.6 Chased Amethyst Seal 7.7 Engraving 2 Seals 1.16 Repairing Repeater 1.5 Gold Tooth Pick Case richly Chased 37.16 4 Strong Gold Picks to D o 4.4 Dec r 9 Colored Gold Seal 5.5 Engraving D o 1.4 Gold Repeater Cleaned & Repaired “ 16 1079.15.0 —————————————————————————————————— R. Johnston, swords and belts July 2nd 1814 52.18.6 W. & A. Feltham, furnishing ironmongers March 25th 1814 2.1.6. W.J.Luxmoore September 20th 1814 95.3.9 Finn & Johnson, tailor (Nott’ham) December 5th 1814 140 (paid) 107.19.10 Hudson’s, chemist December 23rd 1814 53.18.1
56
1815:
Ann Mattam, brewer 1815 46.16.0 Joseph Wells (taxman) January 26th 1815 7.11.0 R.Shipwash (??) sodawater etc August 28th 1815 24.7.6 Globe Insurance Co (home insurance) March 25th 1815 1.16.0 Bryant’s, military & camp equipage October 19th 1815 82.5
1816 and post:
[Parisina and The Siege of Corinth published, February 7th 1816]
John Hurley (taxman) Lady Day 1816 22.19 ————————————————————————————————— Gordon’s January 1817 List of Articles for Lord Byron - One packet of Eagles, tricolors I brass Cuirass (breast & back) I brass helmet with plume 1 Sword - For D r Polidori 1 Steel Cuirass, (breast & back) 1 Steel helmet - 1 Steel sword —————————— Amount of Carriage by land and water from Brussels to London - Duty at the Custom House at London - Porterage - paid by Mr G.H.Gordon - including porterage to Albemarle St. £3.3.0 G.H.Gordon at Mr Gordon’s 10, Park St. Westminster —————————————————————————————————— Love & Kelty, jeweller 1818 Sept 21 A 4 Row’d colored gold Watch Chain 8.8 Bright chased gold Seal 2.2 A D o D o 2.2 A D o Key 1.8 24 Lunette glass to Watch 4.6. Oct 15 Do D o 4.6 Nov 7 A rich chased golf Snuff Box with fine Enamel Painting of } Napoleon Maria Louisa & the King of Rome } 105 A Seed coral Necklace Bracelets & p r of Earings 10.10 129.19 —————————————————————————————————— Claud Avron (taxman) 57
HANSON’S FINAL BILL, 1818
SIDE 1: £ Amount of Purchase Money 94,500 ......
Sums to be first paid Paid 5 Marriage Settlement Trust 60,000 Mrs Sawbridge’s principal Annuity 6,000 Mortgage for part of Lady Byron’s Fortune } paid off and advanced to Lord Byron on } 6,200 10 the Mortgage } 72,000
Remaining Surplus £22,300
Principal for Redemption of Debts Sums paid unpaid 15 Annuities
George Thomas 800 800 ————— Janet Stewart 700 700 ————— George Orme 700 700 ————— 20 Robert Baxter 350 350 ————— Spring Thorpe and Hicks 720 720 —————
Arrears of Annuities
25 Mr Sawbridge and Costs 583.15 656.3.10 ————— George Thomas 305.5.0 106.2.9 ————— Janet Stewart 275 265.3.8 ————— George Orme 275 92.17.6 ————— Robert Baxter 182.12.10 81.15.0 ————— 30 Spring Thorpe and Hicks 340.0.0 251.19.2 —————
Bonds
Mr Claughton 3000 3000 ————— 35 Interest 2 years ½ to Christmas 1818 375 now due 403.15.3 Mrs Byron’s Principal 500 500 ————— Interest from 22nd March to } Christmas 1818 } 18.5.0 22.13.5 ————— Me ssrs Parkyn’s Principal 300.0.0 300.0.0 ————— 40 Interest for same time 11.5.0 13.12.0 ————— Mrs Fletcher 500 500 ————— Interest from 6.12.10 —————
Carried over £9067.0.2 ————— 45 Carried over £403.15.3
25 (in margin): The sums paid for the arrears were paid in full of them. 58
SIDE 2: Debt paid unpaid £ £ £
Simple Contract Brought over 9067.0.2 403.15.3 50 Baxter and Comp y 2082.4 } 1333.15.6 991.13.0 Interest to Christmas 1818 243.4.6} Me ssrs Edwards 1033.6.0 1126.19.8 Mr Farebrother 2498.1.6 2498.1.6 55 Neale Surveyor 96.15.9 96.15.9 Robert Newman 434.19.6 234.19.6 200 Randell [sic] and Comp y 104.3.6 104.3.6 Griffiths 466.4.11 245.13.4 200 ¶| Le Count 11.16.3 11.16.3 60 ¶| Wooley, Piccadilly 22.15.0 22.15.0 ¶| Glossop D o 21.18 21.18 ¶| Holland S t James’s Street 18.9.6 18.9.6 Dallman [sic] Hatter 65.3.6 65.3.6 Orchard Upholsterer N o 28 King } 64.1.3 This Debt is 53.16 65 St Soho } ¶| Elsam of Mansfield 5.4.1 5.4.1 Morley Nottingham 197.6 .0 100 Wylde and Comp y Southall 133.2.4 100 Assignees of William Hodgkinson 17.18.6 17.18.6 70 ¶| Mr Hutchinson Southwell 17.13.6 Paid by L d: B. ¶| Webster of Nottingham 30.0.3 30.0.3 ¶| Hopkinson Southwell 42.5 42.5 ¶| Fin and Johnson Nottingham 107.19.10 Not due Tunnicliffe Do 47.6.6 47.6.6 75 Do Do 71.0.6 Not due Lingford and Son 24.2.6 His debts 18.14.6 ¶| John Clarke 4.19.5 4.19.5 ¶| William Heane 1.15 1.15 ¶| Eliz th Rayner Nottingham 17.18.6 17.18.6 80 ¶| Stone Do 21.16.0 21.16.0 Davey M rs Byron’s Note Principal 300 Interest 7½ years 112.10 412.10.0 412.10.0 Mrs Wilson Nottingham 89.16.10 89.16.10 85 Amount of sundry Debts remaining } due to different People at Mansfield } 526.11.4 526.11.4 as p r Walkdens account } Carried over £12332.14.5 Carried over £5819.16.6
In left margin, in Byron’s hand: Depend upon many of these having been paid before, or are originally impositions. - Many names are quite unknown. B. [Byron puts verticals (¶|) at the left-hand edge of the names he suspects or cannot remember.] 59
SIDE 3 (i): 90 Debts paid unpaid £ £ £5819.16.6 £12332.14.5 R Lindley Mason 12.16.9 12.16.9 Farnworth Carpenter 6.15.6 6.15.6 95 Mr Hanson 8000 5000 3000 Me ssrs Hanson’s 1178.3.1 1191.3.4 Francis Keeper 26.13.6 26.13.6 Joseph Murray 50 50 a damned rascal 100 Owen Mealey ∧∧∧about £400 400 Total Debts as per above List which List Mr £28162.0.6 Hanson went through with Lord Byron at Venice Debts discovered since the above List 105 Baringer and Comp y Coal Merchants 164.7.10 164.7.10 Woodgate Livery Man 42 42 W.B.Hudson’s Chemist 33.1.3 33.1.3 Bryant’s Saint Paul’s Church Yard } 110 for Camp Equipage Balance of a } 104 104 Bill of 404.0.0 } Ridgeway Booksellers Note of Hand 236.11 236.11 Bill Arrears Quit Rent 6.11.4 6.11.4 Horner and Comp y Nottingham 93 50 £10854.7.11 115 £17622.3.6 Amount of Surplus brought forw d £22,300 60
SIDE 3 (ii):
Amount of Debts paid 17622.3.6 In Mr Kinnaird’s £4677.16.6 Hands and answerable to the payment of the £10854.7.11 120 but the following Debts part of this £10854.7.11 stand thus ——— Messrs Baxter and Compy have } £ s d agreed to take
138 (in margin): discovered to have been paid by L d B. 61
SIDE 4:
Dear Douglas I have marked on this paper many names of Creditors whom I do not know and deny them thrice. - There is no Hopkinson of Southwell - & if there were I owe him nothing.
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO HANSON’S BILL
Byron to Hobhouse and Kinnaird, November 18th 1818:
... Enclosed is Mr. Hanson’s statement of my affairs. - You will perceive that Mr. Hanson is the largest Creditor, and that without his bill there would be a Surplus of two or three thousand pounds after paying off all the debts - Bond - Simple Contract or whatsoever. - He states his bill roundly at eight thousand pounds up to the period of partnership with his Son Charles. - The Bill since as partners - at eleven hundred & seventy eight pounds - three shillings - and one penny. - I have agreed to pay him five thousand pounds - but on condition that his bill be submitted to you twain - and to such person or persons - (legal or others - but probably Counsel) as you shall select to examine - investigate - and advise upon the said account. - You will also please to recollect that in the year 1813 [on July 14th] - he received the sum of two thousand eight hundred pounds or thereabouts [£2,840] on account, for which see his Receipt amongst my papers - now in the care of Mr Hobhouse - who is hereby authorised to open any trunk or trunks - & search for the same in case of necessity - by applying to Messrs. Hoare’s Bankers Fleet Street you will however ascertain the precise Sum which is not denied by Mr. John Hanson ... P.S. - This Letter is private . (BLJ VI 78 - 79)
From Hobhouse’s diary for Monday December 28th 1818:
I dined at D[ouglas]. Kinnaird’s with my father and Hanson - the meeting was assembled to hear Hanson’s report of Lord Byron’s affairs - I had begged my father might be present - The whole went off very satisfactorily - Hanson read a note in which he proposed a composition with Byron’s simple contract