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		scrope davies/lord byron

		Scrope Beardmore Davies was a gambler, like many of his wealthy contemporaries. He was also a close friend and confident of Lord Byron and the poet Shelley. Davies kept letters from these poets and their circle, together with many betting-slips, a water-colour of his brother Samuel and one of Napoleon on St. Helena done by Samuel, in a deed box which he deposited with his bankers. Like many of his fellow gamblers, he lost and was heavily in debt. In 1820 his debts were so high and, as he was being hounded by his creditors, he decided to flee the country. This he kept secret from all but his closest friends and little was known publicly on the subject or when he actually left for France. This letter, adressed to General Sir John Byng, is dated Jan:2-1820 and is the missing link in this particular sequence of his life. Although he says that he has to leave London for a short time, in fact, apart from one short visit he stayed in France until his death in Paris in 1852. The brother to whom he refers is Samuel, whose picture was also deposited in the box. In 1976 the deed-box was found in the vaults of Barclays Bank and, among other literary treasures, it was found to contain Byron's own Third Canto of Child Harold's Pilgimage This letter is now on long term loan to the British Library and forms part of its illustrated lectures on Byron and Scrope Davies. Meanwhile, a copy is held in the museum's collection that includes numerous letters to and from the Byng family, commencing with Admiral George Byng, the first Viscount Torrington.
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