"This you have promised to Gifford long ago, and to Hobhouse and Kinnaird since." Lord Byron, however, continued to write out his "Don Juan," and sent the second canto in April 1819, together with the "Letter of Julia," to be inserted in the first canto.
Mr.Murray, in acknowledging the receipt of the first and second cantos, was not so congratulatory as he had formerly been.

The verses contained, no doubt, some of the author's finest poetry, but he had some objections to suggest.

"I think," he said, "you may modify or substitute other words for the lines on Romilly, whose death should save him." But Byron entertained an extreme detestation for Romilly, because, he said, he had been "one of my assassins," and had sacrificed him on "his legal altar"; and the verse [Footnote: St.16, First Canto.] was allowed to stand over.

"Your history," wrote Murray, "of the plan of the progress of 'Don Juan' is very entertaining, but I am clear for sending him to hell, because he may favour us with a description of some of the characters whom he finds there." Mr.Murray suggested the removal of some offensive words in Canto II.

"These," he said, "ladies may not read; the Shipwreck is a little too particular, and out of proportion to the rest of the picture.