First Impressions II (1811)

Abstract

Neither Moore nor myself had ever seen Byron when it was settled that he should dine at my house to meet Moore; nor was he known by sight to Campbell, who, happening to call upon me that morning, consented to join the party. I thought it best that I alone should be in the drawing-room when Byron entered it; and Moore and Campbell accordingly withdrew. Soon after his arrival, they returned; and I introduced them to him severally, naming them as Adam named the beasts. When we sat down to dinner, I asked Byron if he would take soup? ‘No; he never took soup.’ — Would he take some fish? ‘No; he never took fish.’ — Presently I asked if he would eat some mutton? ‘No; he never ate mutton.’ — I then asked if he would take a glass of wine? ‘No; he never tasted wine.’ — It was now necessary to inquire what he did eat and drink; and the answer was, ‘Nothing but hard biscuits and soda-water.’ Unfortunately, neither hard biscuits nor soda-water were at hand; and he dined upon potatoes bruised down on his plate and drenched with vinegar. — My guests stayed till very late, discussing the merits of Walter Scott and Joanna Baillie¹. — Some days after, meeting Hobhouse, I said to him, ‘How long will Lord Byron persevere in his present diet?’ He replied, ‘Just as long as you continue to notice it.’

Recollections of the Table Talk of Samuel Rogers, ed. M. Bishop (Lawrence, Kan.: University of Kansas Press, 1953) pp. 188–91.