LORD BYRON'S DEALINGS WITH MR.

MURRAY--continued_ On January 2, 1815, Lord Byron was married to Miss Milbanke, and during the honeymoon, while he was residing at Seaham, the residence of his father-in-law Sir Ralph Milbanke, he wrote to Murray desiring him to make occasional enquiry at his chambers in the Albany to see if they were kept in proper order.
_John Murray to Lord Byron_.
_February_ 17, 1815.
MY LORD, I have paid frequent attention to your wish that I should ascertain if all things appeared to be safe in your chambers, and I am happy in being able to report that the whole establishment carries an appearance of security, which is confirmed by the unceasing vigilance of your faithful and frigid Duenna [Mrs.Mule].
Every day I have been in expectation of receiving a copy of "Guy Mannering," of which the reports of a friend of mine, who has read the first two volumes, is such as to create the most extravagant expectations of an extraordinary combination of wit, humour and pathos.
I am certain of one of the first copies, and this you may rely upon receiving with the utmost expedition.
I hear many interesting letters read to me from the Continent, and one in particular from Mr.Fazakerly, describing his interview of four hours with Bonaparte, was particularly good.

He acknowledged at once to the poisoning of the sick prisoners in Egypt; they had the plague, and would have communicated it to the rest of his army if he had carried them on with him, and he had only to determine if he should leave them to a cruel death by the Turks, or to an easy one by poison.

When asked his motive for becoming a Mahomedan, he replied that there were great political reasons for this, and gave several; but he added, the Turks would not admit me at first unless I submitted to two indispensable ceremonies....

They agreed at length to remit the first and to commute the other for a solemn vow, for every offence to give expiation by the performance of some good action.