Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-06
HENRY W. CONWAY.
y REtGN.
From TIE London Courier, .May %.

e1N1 $3.50 N
LORD BYRON AUro BLOC eapuy.-,rla s,I-
LOWING interesting, particulars relative to the
destruction OF Lord Byron's account OF iis usu
lille are from the Literary Observer. They an.
pear To be authentic; at least, names and cir.
cuinstances are mentioned in a manner, which
they could hardly be, were the account not de-
rived from good sources.
"Abont the middle of the wear l8s, n7r
Moore rcccivedf from Lord yron the rnanusc, ;nfs
oil lns litc. 1t was written on detached sheets of
paper, and was evidently not q second conv. II
contained Lis lordsliip's remarks on his conduct
and feelings, from the earliest period Of his re-
collection, wnt TO the year Of 1916; and OK.
planned many of those circumstances on which
inc pubic had most specuiated. 1t is we'll
known and dclicacy need not withhold an allusi.
on to the fact, that Mr.. Moore was, wien he re-.
ceivcdit 1t, IN considerable pecuniary difficulties.
and that the motive Of the gift was to enable
nm to return TO the country from which he was
an unwilling exile. MIR. Nleore first offered il
to Mcssrs. Longtnan, WHO declined purchasing
1t ON any terms. MIR. Murray bought the manu-
scripts tor the sum OF two thousand guinoa>; ard
has friends say, that his chicfrcason for so doing.
was to second the views of the Noble Lord. q n
behalf OF the cxilcd poet. There is some ground
Tor this assertion, WREN we rccolIcct that Lord
Byron was likely to outiirc MIR. Murray many
years, and that the work could only be OF use to
the heirs ofthc Inter gentlemen. It win he re.
mc'nbercd that the publication was prohibited
until three months after Lord Byron,s death.
at was IN November, 1921, that Mr.. Moore
received the money. About twelve months NJ.
forwards Mr. Moore called on MIR. Murray, and
stated to him, that the production in question
contained much that would he equally prciudi-
cal to the character of the Noble Lord, and 70
his own, and applied an expression to the work
which we declined quoting. He therefore re.
qucstcd MIR. Murray to empower him by a bond,
TO make such alterations as he might deem me-
cessary, and to be appointed the editor whence
yer the work should be published. To this MI.
Murray agreed, butdetnanded from MIR. Moore a
bond for the E2000 to sccurc1lim the money he
had paid for the work, in case MIR. Moore should
SO alter it. as to render it an Improbable specu-
lation: MIR. Moore agreed TO the propositions
the bonds were given, aud thus the case stctd
until February, 1924, when Mr.. Moore brought
the assignment Of the work, which lad been
previously delivered. Mr.. Murray then stated
- Mr.. Moore that he wasdissatisfcd at this pow
er Inc had given of altering the work according
TO the ideas ofthc latter, and that lie wished e-
Their to get back the bond which empowered him
so to do, or 10 cas.ceithc agreement, ard to DELI
yer the work on reccivingt the $4,000 alIcofEr "a
his rcason- that she did not wish to be the keep
er ofLord Ryron's horour."-Mr. Moore sail
that he would choose the latter alternative. AMI
promised TO call in week with the money, TO re-
ccive back the work--This MIR. Moore defer
rcd; at any rate, this he did not do. On the
llt', OF May, tile news of Lord ByroD,s
death arrived, and on tic evening of that
day MIR. Moore called ON Mr.. Mnrray, whom.
he dill not sec. The next day
Mr.. Murray went to Mr.. WiIrnot Horton.
the friend of Lady Byron, and stated 10 hin,
all tlie circumstance connected with tIc AT.
fair. MIR. WIlmot Horton was satisfied 10 re-
fund Mr.. Murray Tic sum advanced, and TO
have the work destroyed. subsequently tn.
parties mat at the house Of Mr.. Hobhousc,
where Colonc. Doyle appeared as tie friend of
the Hon. Mrs. Lee, Lord Byron's sister, and lie
was agreed 10 destroy tic work Mr.. Moore
objected to the right which Mr.. Murray
c!@ined OYER il, ana asserted that il was his pro-
rerty. Mr. Murray denied this claim, ON the
ground that the bond given by him TO Mr.,
Moore only allowed him to Withdraw the word,
and to return the money, any time before Lord
Byron's death, but after sucI, all event. it was
exclusively Mr.. Murray's property. The day
alter, the parties met together at Mr.. MUIR
rays house, VIZ Mr.. W. Horton, Mr.. Hob
house, Colonel Doyle, Mr.. Moore, Mr.. LuttrclI,
and Mr.. Murray then declared that he had no
claim Whatever on Mr.. Moore for tue sum paid
that gentleman, while Mr.. Moore persisted in
hs right TO the work. 1t is asserted that Mr.
Moore did NOT mean to have it dtstroycd-bue
THIS we do not for a moment believe. BE it as
IT may, the production was torn and burnt in tie
IoOdI Ol +lr. Lt>.@.dN; AID DurDt, as our Iulor-
metionstai1S. without thc consent Of MIR. Moore.
The CIRCUMSTANCE has since been tic topic of
much conversation in the higher circles, and
each OF the parties has been considerably blam-.
cd by the friends Of the other.
sAlthonghw we haze stated these facts. and A.
gain repeat that we have them from tho best au-
we do not wish to comment ON them.
We think IT, however, our dutyto mention. that
the gentleman alluded To-, expressed, in tltc
highest terms, the sense Of our. .Hurray,s CON
iuct, as a gentleman and a man Of honor. This
MITCH is certain, thai, if .Ur. Murray bad cho-
sen to pnbiis!i the work, he would have made a
fortune by IT; aud dat, in sacrificing his inter-
to his principles, he has acted IS few tralcs-
men would have do3c. We are certain that
our. Murray received for Tie work no more thaa
he hal paid for It.
''Tlie f~iLlosing paragraph appears tiis morn
.ng iiItiIc paper Which first mentioned The de
'~trrction of the manuscripts
owe gave statement the otiier day, Of The
ate transaction with ~rcsfcct TO Lord Eyron's NJ.
which, though correct in the leading facts.
W: the destruction Of TIE manuscript, and the
epaymcnt Of Mr.. Moore OF dc 1000 euineae.
.contai acd we Gnd from authority, some errors.
Which we hasten 20 correct. Tie manuscript
vas not Pcruscd by Mrs. Lee, or any 6f the Der
Concerned; prev ioGsly to its destruction.
IL fyhtt vas - oninh,u CF Mr.. Moore opd