CHAPTER XI.
MURRAY'S DRAWING-ROOM--BYRON AND SCOTT--WORKS PUBLISHED IN 1815 During Mrs.Murray's absence in Edinburgh, the dwelling-house at 50, Albemarle Street was made over to the carpenters, painters, and house decorators.

"I hope," said Mr.Murray to his wife, "to leave the drawing-room entirely at your ladyship's exclusive command." But the drawing-room was used for other purposes than the reception of ordinary visitors.

It became for some time the centre of literary friendship and intercommunication at the West End.

In those days there was no Athenaeum Club for the association of gentlemen known for their literary, artistic, or scientific attainments.

That institution was only established in 1823, through the instrumentality of Croker, Lawrence, Chantrey, Sir Humphry Davy, and their friends.