The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-24 00:00:00

DESTRUCTION op I.nnn nrnoVis MANU-

SCRIFTS OF 1115 LIPS.

[PROM THE LAST 'NO. or THE LITHEMIT OBOISTEILI

The destruction of the work, to which so many had
looked with an anxiety proportionate to the deep interest
with which they contemplated the character of the gifted
and extra ordinary Irving who was the author of it, has been
the atbject of some astonishment, and much speculation,
as to the chief cause of the proceeding. It had been whis-
pered that it contained some secrets, which, for the sake of
the divine as well as the dead, it would be better should ne-
ver meet the public rye ; and it was well 'known that the
uohle poet hail examined himself with as h severity as
he had examined others, and with a severity of which few
persons are capable. But tiros, limited rep rte had only
served to excite public curiosity ; while at was the
uni-
versa! topic of conversation throughout .Great Britain, the
production was destroyed, and the world fur ever pre-
vented from ase.rtaining the actions, the feeling t, the mo-
tives, and the °hopes, of him who was not of the common
order of' men. There can be no doubt that the destruc-
tion of the work was an act justifiable in every sense of the
word. We know (and we have authority for the user-
non), that the name of the great poet would have descended
to posterity less respected than that of almost any other
man ; and that the world would have marvelled more than
ever at the union of a head and heart which had so lamen-
tably differed.
The following circumstances relative to the subject we
have alluded to, have been communicated to us by a per-
son whose opportunity of knowing them cannot be ques-
tioned.; and on whom, we believe, we may place perfect
dependence, as far as it relates to the truth of his statement.
We have deducted from it much that we fancied might
have been exaggerated, and we have altogether omitted se-
veral circumstances that we thought it would be impolitic
and illiberal to lay before the public. We repeat, that our
authority is the very best.
About the middle of the year 1821, Mr. Moore received
from Lord Byron the manuscripts of his life. It was
written on detached sheets of paper, and was evidently not
a second copy. It contained his Lordship's remarks on his
conduct and feelings, from the earliest period of his recol-
lection, down to the year 1816 ; and explained many of
those circumstances on which the public had most specu-
lated. It is wall known, and delicacy need not withhold
an allusion to the fact, that Mr. Moore was, when he re-
ceived it, in considerable pecuniary difficulties, and that
the motive of the gift was, to enable him to return to the
country from which he was an unwilling exile. Mr.
Moore first offered it to Zoos. Longman, who declined
purchasing it on any terms. Mr. Murray bought the Ins-
nuscripts for the sum of two thousand guineas ; and his
friends say. that his chief reason for so doing was to se-
cond the views of the Noble Lord on behalf of the exile d
poet. There is some ground for this assertion, when we
recollect that Lord Byron was likely to outlive Mr. Murray
many years, and that the work could only be of use to the
heirs of the latter gentleman. It will be remembered, that
the publication was prohibited until three months after
Lord Byron's death.
It was in November, 1621, that Mr. Moore received the
money. About twelve months afterwards Mr. Moore
called on Mr. Murray, and stated to him that the produc-
tion in question contained' much that would be alumna'
prejudicial to the character of the Noble Lord and to his
own, and applied an expression to the work which we de-
cline quoting. He therefore requested Mr. Murray to em-
power him by a bond to make such alterations as he might
deem necessary, and to be appointed the editor whenever
the work should be published. To this Mr. Murray agreed,
but demanded from Mr. Moore a bond for the %OWL to se-
cure him the money he had paid for the work, io case Mr.,
Moore should wailer it as to render it an unprofitable epe-
culation. Mr. Moore agreed to the proposition ; the bonds
were given, end thus the case stood until February, 1824,
when Mr. Moore brought the assignment of the work,
which had not been previously delivered. Mr. Murray
then stated to Mr. Moore, that he was dissatisfied at the
power he had given of altering the work according to the
Ideas of the latter, and that he wished either to get back the
bond which empowered him so to do, or to cancel the agree-
merit, and to deliver the work on receiving the 2,000/. ; al-
leging as his reason, that " he did not wish to be the keeper
of Lord Byron's honour." Mr. Moore said, that he would
choose the latter alternative, arid promised to call in a
week with the money, to receive back the work. This Mr.
Moore deferred ; at any rate, this he did not do. On the
14th of May, the news of Lord Byron's death arrived, and
on the evening of that day Mr. Moore called on Mr.
Murray, whom, however, be did not see. The next day
Mr. Murray went to Mr. Wilmot Horton, the friend of
Lady Byron, and stated to him all the circumstances con-
nected with the *fair. Mr. Wilmot Horton was satisfied,
to refund Mr. Mutray the sum advanced, and to have the]
work destroyed. Subsequently the 1 arties met at the house
of Mr. liobhouse, where Colonel Doyle appeared as the
friend of the Hon. Mrs. L. igb, Lord Byron 11 sister, and it
was agreed to destroy the work. Mr. Moore objected to'
the right which Mr. Murray claimed over it, and asserted
that it was his property. Mr. Murray denied this claim,
on the ground that the bond given by him to Mr. Moore
only allowed him to withdraw the work, and to return the
money, any time Afore Lord Byron's death, but that tyter
such an event, it was to be exclusively Mr. Murray's pro-
perty. The day after, the parties met together at Mr.
Murray's house—viz. Mr. V. Horton, Mr. 110bhouse,
(7olonel Doyle, Mr. Moore, Mr. Luttrell, and Mr. Murray.
Mr. Murray then declared that he hail no claim whatever
on Mr. Moore for the sum paid that gentleman, while Mr.
Moore persisted in his right to tile work. It is asserted
that Mr. Moore did not mean to have it destroyed—but this
we do not for a moment believe. Be it as it may, the pro-
duction was torn and burnt in the room of Mr. Murray ;
and burnt, as our informant states, without the consent of
Mr. Moore. The circumstance has since been the topic of
much conversation in the higher circles, anti each of the
parties has been considerably blamed by the friends of the
other._ _ _ _ _ _ .

Although we have stated these facts, and again repeat
that we have them from the best authority, we do not wish
to comment on them. We think it. however, our duty to
' mention, that the gentlemen alluded to expressed, in the
highest terms, their sense of Mr. Murray's conduct, u a
gentleman and a man of honour. This much is certain,
that, if Mr. Murray hall chosen to publish the work, he
would have made a fortune by it; and that, in sacrificing
his interest to his principles, he has acted as few tradesmen
would have done. We are certain that Mr. Murray re-
ceived for the work no mere than he had paid for it.

The present Lord Byrn► (lstAy C:aptais George Anson
Byron), it is said will commission the Blonde, 46, ordered

site brought forward immediately as Woolwich .---Seel.4=
tlntplon (Arafat..
Captain Charles Fox, we ere sorry to hear, has met
witha serious accident, in coustquetice of a fall from his
horse.

Saturday evening the Chancellor of the Exchequer antl
Lady S trail Robinson, left town for the seat of Lady
Buckinghamrhirc, Charlton: Rent._

The remains of the Duchess of Devonshire were re-
moved on Saturday from Devonshire House, for interment
in tile family vault, All Saints. Derby.
It has been remarked that the bete Duchess of Devon-
shire died at the same hour, the same day of the month,
and in the same month, as her predecessor.
Satur,lsy a Committee of the Lords of the Council u-
sembled at the Conned Office, Whitehall, to hear Appeals
from the Island of Jersey.
On Saturday, at two o'clock. a Cabinet Council was
held at the Foreign Office, in Downing-street, which was at-
tended by the Earl :of Liverpool, the Earl of Westmor-
land, the Duke of Wellington, the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer, Mr. Peel, Mr. Canning, Earl Bathurst, Mr. Bus-
kisson, Viscount Sidmouth, &c. The Cabinet continued
in deliberation till about five o'clock.

DE•TH Or SIR HENRY CLEMENT THOUTION.—This
gentleman died suddenly in the King's Bench prison on
Saturday night, where he had been confined since March
last. His day-rule had been provided in the morning, but
sudden indisposition prevented his using it, and before
ten o'clock in the evening he fell suddenly from his chair.
Messrs. Easton and Ward were prompt in rocuring me-
dical assistance, but the spark of life was extinct.
The Newcastle theatre is advertised to be let. Mr.
Manse! is one of the candidates for it; the others are
Messrs. Macready, Butler, Bunn, and Oxberry.—Kell
Packet.