Docketed.
Address panel with postmark and a seal to "R.B. Hoppner Esq're / Consul General / to his B.M. / Venezia"
High reserve.
Merryweather was a shopkeeper in Venice whose shop Byron frequented. He was fined by Italian authorities for violating the import laws, Byron loaned him money to pay the fine but later, after a disagreement, Byron sued him for the loan plus interest and court fees. Angelo Mengaldo was a former soldier in Napoleon's army whom Byron met at Hoppner's house.
Discussing his feud with Merryweather; saying "An Advocate Fossati writes about Merryweather wanting me to sign a paper. - He says - that I declared to Mingaldo - "that I would release him-" previously to his arrest. - To Mingaldo I never spoke on the subject in my life - I have not even seen him for these last fifteen months. - I wrote to you to let him out - but this was after he was in - and as you showed no great alacrity and the fellow had behaved like a damned rascal - there was no violent hurry manifested on my part. - I will do whatever you think proper about it - I never meant to keep him in - but it seems to be the law - & not the creditor at present which does so. As to signing papers - one should think twice first - and he should have thought twice - before he bilked his bail - and then defied me at law for two years - however I have no objection to let him out again. - Allegra has been unwell - but is getting better in the country - where the air is much purer, - the heat has been tremendous. - Take care of your little boy - my best respects to Madame Hoppner;" discussing, in a postscript, the receipt of papers, wages owed and payments to be made through Siri & Willhalm (his bankers).