[Footnote: Lord J.Russell's " Memoirs, etc., of Thomas Moore," iv.p.

188.] _John Murray to Mr.R.Wilmot Horton_.

ALBEMARLE STREET, _May_ 19, 1824.
Dear Sir, On my return home last night I found your letter, dated the 17th, calling on me for a specific answer whether I acknowledged the accuracy of the statement of Mr.Moore, communicated in it.

However unpleasant it is to me, your requisition of a specific answer obliges me to say that I cannot, by any means, admit the accuracy of that statement; and in order to explain to you how Mr.Moore's misapprehension may have arisen, and the ground upon which my assertion rests, I feel it necessary to trouble you with a statement of all the circumstances of the case, which will enable you to judge for yourself.
Lord Byron having made Mr.Moore a present of his Memoirs, Mr.Moore offered them for sale to Messrs.

Longman & Co., who however declined to purchase them; Mr.Moore then made me a similar offer, which I accepted; and in November 1821, a joint assignment of the Memoirs was made to me by Lord Byron and Mr.Moore, with all legal technicalities, in consideration of a sum of 2,000 guineas, which, on the execution of the agreement by Mr.Moore, I paid to him.