This, he positively assured his
mother, was not the case; but, believing, as he did firmly, that the
child belonged to Curzon, it was his wish that it should be brought up
with all possible care, and he, therefore, entreated that his mother
would have the kindness to take charge of it. Though such a request
might well (as my informant expresses it) have discomposed a temper
more mild than Mrs. Byron's, she notwithstanding answered her son in
the kindest terms, saying that she would willingly receive the child
as soon as it was born, and bring it up in whatever manner he desired.
Happily, however, the infant died almost immediately, and was thus
spared the being a tax on the good nature of any body.]
[Footnote 67: In this practice of dating his juvenile poems he
followed the example of Milton, who (says Johnson), "by affixing the
dates to his first compositions, a boast of which the learned Politian
had given him an example, seems to commend the earliness of his own
compositions to the notice of posterity."
The following trifle, written also by him in 1807, has never, as far
as I know, appeared in print:--
"EPITAPH ON JOHN ADAMS, OF SOUTHWELL, A CARRIER,
"WHO DIED OF DRUNKENNESS.
"John Adams lies here, of the parish of Southwell,
A _Carrier_, who _carried_ his can to his mouth well;
He _carried_ so much, and he _carried_ so fast,
He could _carry_ no more--so was _carried_ at last;
For, the liquor he drank being too much for one,
He could not _carry_ off,--so he 's now _carri-on_.
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