• John William Polidori (1795-1821, schrijver van het eerste vampierverhaal) begeleidde Lord Byron als arts op een reis naar Europa, in gezelschap van Shelley en Mary Shelley. Hij overleed jong, misschien door zelfmoord. De reis naar Europa beschreef hij in een dagboek.
September 5.— Not written my Journal till now through neglect and dissipation. Had a long explanation with S[helley] and L[ord] B[yron] about my conduct to L[ord] B[yron]; threatened to shoot S[helley] one day on the water. Horses been a subject of quarrel twice, Berger having accused me of laming one.
L[ord] B[yron] went to town in pursuit of thieves who came to steal the anchors after having stolen my sail. Was refused permission to go out I went to the Syndic Saladin, and told him I begged his pardon for our servants, who must have said something insulting, or else he could not have refused permission to leave the port Thieves attempted to break into the house.
An apothecary sold some bad magnesia to L[ord] B[yron]. Found it bad by experiment of sulphuric acid colouring it red rose-colour. Servants spoke about it. Appointed Castan to see experiment; came; impudent; refused to go out; collared him, sent him out, broke spectacles. Laid himself on a wall for three hours; refused to see experiments. Saw L[ord] B[yron], told him his tale before two physicians. Brought me to trial before five judges ; had an advocate to plead. I pleaded for myself; laughed at the advocate. Lost his cause on the plea of calumny ; made me pay 12 florins for the broken spectacles and costs. Magnesia chiefly alumina, as proved by succenate and carbonate of ammonia.
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