Page:Reminisences of Captain Gronow.djvu/234

212 On one occasion, whilst his lordship was dining with a few of his friends in Charles Street, Pall Mall, a letter was delivered to Scrope Davies, which required an immediate answer. Scrope, after reading its contents, handed it to Lord Byron. It was thus worded:—

""—Lend me 500l. for a few days; the funds are shut for the dividends, or I would not have made this request. """

The reply was:—

""—All my money is locked up in the funds. ".""

This was just before Brummell's escape to the Continent.

I have frequently asked Scrope Davies his private opinion of Lord Byron, and invariably received the same answer—that he considered Lord Byron very agreeable and clever, but vain, overbearing, conceited, suspicious, and jealous. Byron hated Palmerston, but liked Peel, and thought that the whole world ought to be