Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-06-11

concerning her. | consulted several of her
friends; and it was their Joint opinion,
that since the ice OF reserve had been bro.
ken by Lord Byron's biographer on the
luckIess topic, 1t would DE the duty of some
one OF ter friends tn say in answer to Mr..
Moore, some hing more than Lady Byron
could with propriety say herself. A female
friend offered to do this, aud she would
have probably done it better than can.
But could not be such craven as to let
woman come forward in my place. |
went to Lady Byron Tor such general cir
cumstances OF truth as might not involve
her IN accusing Lord Byron. For more
particular facts respecting the separation.
applied to different bnt perfectly au-
thentIc quarter; and there learnt few
facts, which, though my readers need not
fear that shall inllct them on their deli
cacy, suffice I" convince me that Lady
Byron was justified in the parting by cir
cumstances which Lord Byron had either
forgot, or, "wlth all his manly candour."
had tailed TO state to Mr.. Moore.
My plainness in speaking Of Mr.. Moore
'sa compliment TO his Importance and
popularity, which would make a weak or
timid renonstiance incapable of reaching
man. MY interest in suffering woman
needs no apology.
tound my right to speak on this pain
iul select on its now irrevocable pubici-
~, brought up afresh, as it has been by
MIR. Moore to be the theme of discourse
To millions, and, if err not much. the
cause OF misconcepton to nnumerable
mihds. claim to speak of Lady Byron
| IN the right OF man, and of a friend TO
'he rights OF women, and to liberty, and
To natural religion. | claim a right. more
especially, as one of the many friends of
Lady Byron, who, one and all, feel ag-
gr'eved toy this production. Ii has virtu-
any dragged her forward from the shade
Oh retirement, where she had hid her sor-
rows, and compelled her to defend the
neads OF her friends and her parents from
oeing crushed under the tombstone OF By
ron. Nay, In general view, it has forced
her to defend herself though with her
true sense and her pure taste, she stands
above all special pleading. To plenary
explanation she ought not-she never
shall be driven. Mr.. Moore is too much
a gentleman rot to shudder at the Thoughts
OF that but if other Byronists, of far
different stamp, were to force the savage
ordeal, it is her enemies, and not she
that would have to tread the bnrning
ploug
We, her friends, have no wish to pro-
long the discussion but few words we
must add, even TO her admirable statement
for hers is cause not only dear to her
friends, but having become, from Mr..
Moore and her misloriunes, a publicly
agitated cause, it concerns morality and
the most sacred rights f.he sex, that she
should, (and that, too, without more spe-
cial explanations be acquitted Out and
out and honorably acquitted in this bu-
slness, ofaH share in the blame which is
one and indivisble. Mr.. Moore, in fer
Their reflection, may see this, and his re
turn 10 candour will surpiize us less
than his momentary deviation Gom its
path.
For the tact Of Mr. Moore's conduct in
this affair | have not to answer, but, if
lndelIcacy be charged upon me, scorn
the charge. Neither will submit to be
called Lord Byron's accuser-because a
word against him wish not to say, beyond
what is painfully wrung from me by the
necessity of owning or illustrating Lady By
roD's unbIameableness, and of repelling
certain misconceptions respecting her,
which are now walking the fashionable
world, and which have been fostered
| (though Heaven knows where they were
born) most delcatey and warily by the
Christian godfathershlp of Mr.. Moore.
l wrlte not at Lady Byron's bidding
| have never huJiliated either her or my
self by asking If | should write or what
should wrIte-that is to say, never ap.
i piled to her for information against Lord
Byron though was justified, as one who
intended to cr;tIcse Mr. Moore, to inquire
into the truth of some his statements.
Neither will | suffer myself to be called
hei champion, if by that word be meant
the advocate other mere legal innocence,
for that, ] take 1t, nobody questions. Still
less is 1t from the sorry impulse of pity
that | speak of this noble woman, for |
look with wonder and even envy, at the
proud purity of her sense and conscience.
that have carried her exquisite sensibilties
in triumph through such poignant ribuIa-
tons. But | am proud to be called her
iriend-the humble illustrator Of her
cause, and the advocate OF those principles
which make it To- me more interesting
than Lord Byrou's. Lady Byron II the
subject must be dlscussed) belongs to
sentiment and morality--at least as much
as Lord Byron nor is she to be suffered.
when compelled to speak, to raise her
voice as III desert, with no friendly
voice to respond 10 her. Lady Byron
could not have outIiyed her suffering, if
she had rot wound I'D her fortitu6e TO the