D239 M/F 16302: April 4th 1815
Dear Knight
I have read “Alashtar” with attention and great pleasure. It appears to me preferable to the Yaniote but that may be owing to the measure which is a favourite of mine. I have seen nothing to make me change the opinion already expressed – very little to alter – & hardly anything which is not or may not be made very good. I have always thought both the risk & the reward of publication (I don’t mean pecuniary reward but fame & so forth) very much overrated – & half imaginary – but I have seldom seen less ground for apprehension on the part of an author than in the poem before me. Believe me very truly your obliged & affectionate servant,
Byron
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Lest we leave the impression that Lord Byron’s assessment of Gally Knight’s talents was wholly positive, here is a section of a satirical ditty Byron composed three years later:
He has twelve thousand pounds a year–
I do not mean to rally
His songs at sixpence would be dear
So give them gratis–Gally.
And if this statement should seem queer
Or set down in a hurry
Go–ask (if he will be sincere)
His Publisher–John Murray.–
Come say–how Many have been sold?
And don’t stand shilly-shally,
Of bound & lettered, red & gold,
Well printed works of Gally?
(See, for instance: readytogoebooks.com/LB-gally.htm)