The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-06 00:00:00

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

THERE are two points at issue in the great BYRON
controversy—the accuracy of Mrs. STOWE'S nar-
rative, and her discretion in telling it. On the second
point there can, we think, be very little difference of
opinion. For eight years of wifehood, for thirty-six
years of widowhood, Lady BYRON kept secret this
terrible story, supposing it to be a true one. She died
as she lived, honoured and beloved, and no blot rested
on her fair fame. Why, then, attempt to vindicate her
nine years after her death? Because, says Mrs.STOWE,
the Countess GUICCIOLI has attacked- it by her
recent " Recollections." But has that book met with
such a reception as to render imperative an answer
involving such a fearful revelation as that which
Mrs. STOWE has made ? Surely not. The testi-
mony of the mistress is not likely to prevail against
that of the wife, and the COUNTESS'S is, for the
most part, not evidence at all in the legal sense of the
word, but mere hearsay. Moreover, Mrs. STOWE was
not one of the executors to whom Lady BYRON
entrusted her papers—was, therefore, not one of the
only three persons who were, or are, at liberty to
make these papers public. But the strongest argu-
ment of all is contained in Mr. WILLIAM HOWITT'S
letter published in the Daily News of Saturday. Lady
BYRON, he says, was highly praised for her reticence
with respect to her husband's misconduct.
" But no sooner was BYRON dead, having
left a carefully-written memoir in his own
justification, than Lady BYRON sought to buy this
up. She, in fact, never ceased her exertions till she
had procured the destruction of her husband's own
carefully-prepared defence. No sooner was this
accomplished, no sooner had she stifled his posthu-
mous cries for a fair hearing by the public, than,
if we are to believe Mrs. STOWE, she proceeds to
blast his character to all posterity, by not merely
whispering into the ear charges of the most dam-
ning and revolting nature, but she puts these into
writing." Mrs. STOW; in seeking to justify Lady
BYRON, has really done her serious injury. The
other and more important question is not, we
think, yet ready for a positive judgment. There
is much evidence to support the charge against
Lord BYRON, and the evidence is cleverly put
together in the Saturday Review. On the other hand,
is it possible that Lady BYRON would have allowed
her daughter to be called after her rival, and that
rival guilty of incest ? Is it likely that she would
have lived with BYRON thirteen months after the
discovery of his crime ? Add to these argu-
ments the eccentric conduct to which Mr. HOWITT
bears witness, and which suggests that Lady BYRON
herself was not always sane, and we have strong
reasons for doubting the truth of this monstrous
story. We deeply regret that it should ever have
been published. Having been published, it ought to
be sifted to the uttermost.

LATEST INTELLMENCE

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Sept. 4.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
CLOSING PRICES.

Gold closed at 137 f ; the highest quotation dur-
ing the day was 1374 ; the lowest, 1351.
Sterling Exchange on London lOBl.
5-20 U. S. Bonds, 18S°
66 " 1885 1221.
tc " 1867 l2ll.

10-40
Illinois 1384

Erie 314•

Cotton—Mid. upland 3sc.
Petroleum—Standard White 32}c.
Flour, extra state, $6.45c. to $7.5c. Corn, old
mixed, $1.20c.
QUEBEC, Sept. 4.
The strike of the ship labourers has been com-
promised, and order is restored.

The Allan (Glasgow) steamship Prussian arrived
out to-day.
BOSTON, Sept. 4.
The extra Cunard steamship Siberia arrived out
to-day.
QUEENSTOWN, Sept. 6.

The Guyon steamship Nebraska, from New York,
arrived here at 6 a.m. to-day with 94 passengers,
some of whom were landed, and she proceeded im-
mediately for Liverpool.
The Inman Royal Mail steamer City of Paris,
from New York, arrived here at 9.20 a.m. to-day,
with £3,000 in specie, and having landed mails and
passengers she proceeded immediately for Liver-
pool. All well.

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 5.

The Minister of Finance has made a speech at
the Council of the Credit Establishments, wherein
he states that the public debt has been reduced in
1869 by 1,342,000 Dutch florins (£445,100 ster-
ling), 9,050,284 paper roubles, and 1,091,090 silver
roubles. There remained the advances made to
the various railway undertakings, amounting to
30,148,867 roubles.
The Minister further stated that the Imperial
Bank had purchased in 1868 bullion to the amount
of 5,923,304 roubles.