51 — To Henry Angelo1
Trinity College, Cambridge, May 16, 1806.
Sir
, —
cannot be more indignant, at the insolent and unmerited conduct of Mr. Mortlock
, than those who authorised you to request his permission. However we do not yet despair of gaining our point, and every effort shall be made to remove the obstacles, which at present prevent the execution of our project.
yesterday waited on the Master of this College
, who, having a personal dispute with the Mayor, declined interfering, but recommended an application to the Vice Chancellor, whose authority is paramount in the University.
shall communicate this to Lord Altamount
, and we will endeavour to bend the obstinacy of the
upstart
magistrate, who seems to be equally deficient in justice and common civility. On my arrival in town, which will take place in a few days, you will see me at Albany Buildings, when we will discuss the subject further. Present my remembrance to the Messrs. Angelo, junior, and believe me, we will yet
humble
this
impertinent bourgeois
.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Byron
Henry Angelo, the famous fencing-master, was at the head of his profession for nearly forty years. His position was recognized at least as early as 1787, when he published
The School of Fencing
, and fenced, with the Chevalier de St. George and other celebrities, before the Prince of Wales at Carlton House. In 1806 he was travelling down every other week to Cambridge, as he states in his
Pic Nic
(1837), to visit his pupils. He had made Byron's acquaintance at Harrow by teaching him to fence, and in later years had many bouts with him with the foils, single-sticks, and Highland broadsword. His
Reminiscences
(1830), together with his
, contain numerous anecdotes of Byron, to whom he seems to have been sincerely attached. In 1806 he had several rooms in London for the use of his pupils. One of these was at 13, Bond Street, which he shared with Gentleman Jackson, the pugilist and ex-champion. In Cruikshank's picture of the room (Pierce Egan's
Life in London
, p. 254), two fencers have unmasked and stopped their bout to see Jackson spar with Corinthian Tom. Angelo contributed an article on fencing to Sir John Sinclair's
Code of Health and Longevity
, vol. ii. p. 163.
Angelo, who retired from London in 1821, and lived near Bath, was in 1806 at the height of his reputation. An old Etonian (1767), he knew every one in London; had dined at the same table with the Prince of Wales, acted with Lord Barrymore, sung comic songs with Dibdin, punned with Bannister and Colman, fished at Benham on the invitation of the Margravine of Anspach, played the flute to Lady Melfort's accompaniment on the piano, and claimed his share of the table-talk at the Keep Line Club. Nearly every celebrity of the day, from Lord Sidmouth and Lord Liverpool to Kean and Macready, was his pupil.
cross-reference: return to Footnote 1 of Letter 98
Mr. Mortlock, the Mayor of Cambridge, is thus mentioned in a letter from S. T. Coleridge to Southey, dated September 26, 1794: "All last night I was obliged to listen to the damned chatter of "Mortlock, our mayor, a fellow that would certainly be a pantisocrat were his head and heart as highly illuminated as his face. In the tropical latitude of this fellow's nose was I obliged to fry" (
Letters of S. T. Coleridge
(1895), vol. i. p. 87).
William Lort Mansel, Master of Trinity, and Bishop of Bristol. (See page 84,
1.)
Howe Peter Browne, Lord Altamont (1788-1845), of Jesus College, succeeded his father in 1809 as second Marquis of Sligo. Byron spent some time with him at Athens in 1810. Lord Sligo's letter on the origin of the
Giaour
is quoted by Moore (
Life
, p. 178). (See also page 289,
1.)
cross-reference: return to Footnote 3 of Letter 144