Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-05-06


fniness and affa cilon on the road on her arIi-
val ~ kirkby Mallory, her father wrote 10 &C
t quaint Lord Byron thai she would return 10
hin, no more -
In my observations upon this statement. I shall
as far as possible, avoid touching on any mai-
ters relating personally 10 Lord Byron aud my
self-1he facts are !. leh London lor kirkby
Mallory, the residence Of my father and mo.
Their, on the 18th of January. 1916. Lord
Byron had signi6ed TO me in writing (Jan. oih1
his absolute desire that | should leave Londnn
Oh the earliest day | coald conveniently FIX II
was not safe for me To undertake the fatigue of
IA Journey sooner than the 10Th. Previously
TO my departure 1t had been strongly Impressed
on my mind, that Lord Byron VAS under. Tho
influence Of insanity. This opinion WAS deri,
we'd IN great measure from the communica-
tons made TO me by his nearest relatives aud
personal attendants, who had more opporlunl-
ties than myself Of observing him during the
latter part of my stay in lown. II was even
represented to me than he was IN danger OF
destroying himself. Hih the concurrence ofhis
family. had consulted Dr. Baltic ~ "A Trend,
dan. stb) respecting this supposed malndy
On acquantipE him with the state of The case,
and Lord Byrons desire that should leave
London, Dr.. Ba,e thoughtIhat my absence
nigh be advisable as an experiment, assuming
the laot OF menlaI arrangement FOR DR.. Baltic
not having access 10 Lord Byron, could moi
pronounce n positive opinion on that puinf
He eeJoinnd that IN correspondence With Lord
| Byron should avoid all bui light aud sooihing
topics Under these impressions, | lett Lon
don, Determined to follow the advice given by
Dr.. Baltic. Whatever might have been the na-
tnre of Lord Byi0n', conduct towards me from
The tune vi my marriage, yet sopposhg nun 10
| tre ~ state OF msnlal alienation, II was mol
for me, nor any person OF common humanity.
to manifest, at that moment. Hseuse of INJURY
On the day Of my departure, and again on my
arrival NJ kirkby January l6th, wrote 10
Lord Byron ia kind aud cheerful tone, accoi-
ding Ia those medical dreciiona. The letter
was circulated, and employed as a ptetesi
for the charge II my having been snbse'
qncnlly influenced TO " desert my hus-
band
II Inns bees argued, that parted from Lord
Byron in perfect harmony that feelings, IN
compatible with any deep sense Of injury had
dictated the letter which addressed 10 HIM
and that my sentiments must haye been cham
ged by persuasion and interference, when "af
under the roof Of my parents These asser-
Iuoas and Inference are wholly destitute al
foundation. When | arrived at kTkby
| Mallory, my parents were unacqua'n'ed win
the existence of any causes likely 10 DESTROY
my prospects nfhappneS aud when com
|
formed concerning Lord Bvron's state OF mud,
| ibey wer, IN psi m ous 10 promote his resinfa-
| ton by ever, nIcans in their power - Ihey
assured those r, mtInns VINO were with him in
| London, that they would devote their whole
care Il nd attention 10 the alienation OF his nala-
! Nv, :" and hoped to make the best arrangements
for his Comfort, if he could be induced TO
visit them With these intentions my mother
wrote 90 the 18th 10 Lord Byron, in yl'lnR him
| IN kirkby Mallory. She had always treated
! him with an affect ionate consideration aud |
| indulgence v hlch extended 10 every little pr /
cnliarity of his feelings Never did an irritating |
word escape her lips in her whole intercourse
with him The accounts given me alter leit
| l. ri Byron 10y he persons IN Constant inter !
course with him, added In those doubts. "hioh
had before ransenly occurred 10 my mind, as
| II the reality of the alledged disease aud the |
reporis of his med cal attendant were thrtrom |
| 90 abishng the existence OF any thiog IKE
| lunacy Under this unceri ainiy, deemtd II
right 10 communicate 10 my parents, that u
were to consider Lord Byron's past conduct
| as that ofa person Of sound mind, nothing !
could induce me 10 return 10 him. II therei ~
| appeared expedieni both TO them and myself
consult the ahlest advisers. For that obJec,
| and also 10 obtain sill further Information is
peciing the Appearances which seemed TO indi
cue menta arrangement, my mother deter
mine 20 go tn Lopdon.
" She WINS empo wered by me- 10 take legal /
opinicH ON a written statement 81 nine, though |
| had thea reasons for rpsepng part OF III"
case from the kno"edgc even OF my father
and moihe, BE ,ng convinced by the result
OF these inquiries. ADD by the tenor oil Lord
| Ryron's proceedings that the notion OF insanity |
was mn illusion | n" longer hesnatcd to au-
thorize such measures were necessary, ~
order 10 secure me from being ever again
| nlaced in his pOWer Conformahly with this !
| resolution my father wrote 10 him on the I'd
| Of February 10 propose an am cable separation
| Lord Byron at frs ejeced this proposal but
! when it was diSlmcN notified TO him, that II he
! persisted IN his refusal, recourse must be had
| TO legal nea sues, he agreed to sign afeed OF
separation. Upon applying to DIR. Lnsh'ng-
ton, who was intimately acquainted with all
the circumstances 10 state in writing what he
recolected upon this subject, received from
him the following letter, by which ii will be
manifest that my mother cannot have been
actuated by any hostile or ungenerous motives
towards Lord Byron:
" nv dear Lndy Byron,-I can rely upon the
! accuracy OF my memory for the following
statement Twas originally consulted 10y Lady
! Noel on your behalf, whilst you were ~ the
| country /; the circumstances detahed ny hef
were such as justified separation, but they
we're not Of that aggravated description, rs 10
| render such n measure lndis pensahie. On
Lady NoeIs representation, deemed reoonci
lation with Lord Byron practicable and telt
most sincerely wish 10 AID IN ehectIng H..
There was not on Lady Noels part any e1sg.
geralon Of the facts nor, so far as | could per
eeiye. any determination 10 prevent a return TO
. lord Byron =: certainly none was expressed
when 1 spoke of a reconciliation. When you
. came to town in about fortnight, or perhaps
more, after my first interview with Lady Noel,
was for the first time informed by you OF
\ facts utterly unknown, as have no doubt, 70
Sir Ralph and Lady Nod. On receiving THIS
, additional Information my opinion was entirely
o.. chang ed considered reconciliation impossl.
BILE. 1 declared my opinion, aud added that IL
. such an idea should be entertained couId