Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-04-30
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, APRlu. 80 1880

this supposed malady. On acquainting
HIM with the state of the case, and with
Lord Byron's desire that should leave
London, DIR. Baillie thought that my alb
sence might be advisable as an expert
ment, assuming the fact of mental de-
Management; for DIR. Baillie, not having
had access to Lord Byron, could not pro-
nounce positive opinion on that point.
lie enJoIned that in correspondence with
Lord Byron | should avoid all but light
and soothing topics. Under these I'M
presslons, left London, determined to
follow the advice given by DR.. BaiIlie.-
whatever might have been the nature Of
Lord Byron's conduct towards me from
the time OF my marriage, yet supposing
him TO be in state of mental alienation.
1t was not for me, nor for any person OF
common humanity, to manifest, =" that
moment, sense of injury. On the dav
OF my departure. and again on my arrival
at kirkby, January 18th, | wrote to Lord
Byron in kind aud cheerful tone, accor.
ding TO those medical directions. The last
letter was circulated, and employed as
pretext for the charge of my having been
subsequently influenced to desert,t my
husband. 1t has becen argued, that /
parted from Lord Byron in perfect hariuo-
ny that feelings Incompatible with any
deep sense OF injury had dictated the let
ter which addressed TO him; and that
my sentiments must have been changed
by persuasion. and interference, when
was under the roof Of my parents. These
assertions and differences are wholly desti-
tnte OF foundation. When 1 arrived at
k'rkby Mallory, my parents were unac-
quainted with the existence of any causes
likely to destroy my prospects of happ,.
ness: and when | communicated to them
the opinion which had been formed con.
corning Lord Byron's state of mind. they
were most anxious to promote his restora-
ton by every means in their power. They
assured those relations who were with him
in London, that they would devote their
whole care and attention to the allevia-
ton OF his malady,' and hoped to make the
best arrangements for his comfort, if he
could be induced to visit them. With
these intentions my mother wrote on the
9TH to Lord Byron, inviting him to Kirk
iy Mallory. She had always treated him
with an affectIonate consideration and in
diligence, which extended to every litte |
peculiarly of his feelings. Never did sn
irritating word escape her lips in her Wide |
intercourse with him. The accounts give
me after | left Lord Byron by the pei son IS
IN Constant intercourse with him, addedto
those doubts which had before transieuly
occurred to my mind, as to the reality OF
the disease; and the reports of his meli-
cal attendant were far from establishing
the existence of any thing like lunscy.
Under this uncertainty, | deemed it r ght
to communicate to my parents that ii |
were to consider Lord Byron's past con-
duct as that OF person of sound mind,
nothing could induce me to return to lin.
1t therefore appeared expedient both to
them and myself to consult the ablest adj
vIsers. For that object, and also to OBJ
tam still further information respecting
the appearances which seemed to indicate
mental arrangement, my mother determ-
med to go to London. She was empow-
cred by me to take legal opinions on
written statement of mine, though | had
then reasons for reservng part Of the
case from the knowledge even of nv ia.
Their and mother. Being convinced by
the result of those inquiries, and by the
tenor of Lord Byron's proceedings. that
the notion OF insanity was an illusion, 70
longer hesItated tc authorize such meas
ures as was necessary, in order to secure
me from being ever again placed in his
power. Comfortably with this resolution,
my father wrote to him on the I'd of Feb
ruary, to propose an amicable separation.
Lord Byron at first rejected this proposal
but when 1t was distinctly notified to him,
that if he persisted in bis refusal, recourse
must be had to legal measures, he agreed
to sign deed of separation. Upon APP
plying to DR.. Lushingtcn, VINO was init
mately acquainted with all the circunstan-
ces, to state in writing what he recoIlected
upon this subject, received from him the
following letter, by which it will be mani
lest that my mother cannot have been &C d.
tuated by any hostile or ungenerous mo-
tive towards Lord Byron:
My dear Lady Byron-I can RELY up
on the accuracy of my memory for the
following statement; was originally con
suited by Lady Noel on your behalf, whilst
you were in the country the cIrcumstan-
ces detailed by her were such as justified a
separation, but they were not Of that az
gravated description as TO render such a
measure Indispensable. On Lady Noel's
representation, | deemed reconciliation
with Lord Byron practicable. and felt
most sincerely wish to aid in affecting it.
There was not on Lady Noel's part any
exaggeration of the facts; nor, so far
as could perceive, any determination IL
prevent return to Lord Byron; certainly
none was expressed when | spoke of re-.
cancellation. When you came 10 town a.