In a MS. book written by Mrs. Heath of Newstead ('née' Rebekah Beardall), it is stated that the elder Rushton had as his farm-servant Fletcher, afterwards Byron's valet. Byron watched Fletcher and young Robert Rushton ploughing, took a fancy to both, and engaged them as his servants. Rushton accompanied Byron to Geneva, but afterwards entered the service of James Wedderburn Webster (see p. 2, 'note' 1). In 1827 he married a woman of the name of Bagnall, and with her help kept a school at Arnold, near Nottingham. Subsequently he took a farm on the Newstead estate, named Hazelford, and shortly afterwards died, leaving a widow and three children.]
Your refusal to carry the letter was not a subject of remonstrance: it was not a part of your business; but the language you used to the girl was (as _she_ stated it) highly improper.
You say, that you also have something to complain of; then state it to me immediately: it would be very unfair, and very contrary to my disposition, not to hear both sides of the question.
If any thing has passed between you _before_ or since my last visit to Newstead, do not be afraid to mention it. I am sure _you_ would not deceive me, though _she_ would. Whatever it is, _you_, shall be forgiven. I have not been without some suspicions on the subject, and am certain that, at your time of life, the blame could not attach to you. You will not _consult_, any one as to your answer, but write to me immediately. I shall be more ready to hear what you have to advance, as I do not remember ever to have heard a word from you before _against_, any human being, which convinces me you would not maliciously assert an untruth. There is not any one who can do the least injury to you, while you conduct yourself properly. I shall expect your answer immediately. Yours, etc.,
My Dear Moore,--I wish very much I could have seen you; I am in a state of ludicrous tribulation.
***Why do you say that I dislike your poesy [1]? I have expressed no such opinion, either in _print_ or elsewhere. In scribbling myself, it was necessary for me to find fault, and I fixed upon the trite charge of immorality, because I could discover no other, and was so perfectly qualified in the innocence of my heart, to "pluck that mote from my neighbour's eye."