The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-02-16
From the Home Journal
Causes of Byron's Separation from
his Wife.

his Wife.
a correspondent, who writes on behalf of
''many' asks us to state the cause of the rupture
between Lord and Lady Byron. To do SO were
easy task, since Byron himself repeatedly de-
clares, in his letters that The sause was unknown
TO himself. Yet, II brief recapitulation of such
facts haze transpred, may interest those of our
seaders who do not happen to have access TO the
documents.
On the second oc January, 1915, Lord Byron
-tLen in his twenty yseventh year-was united
in marriage with Miss MiIIbanke. On the tenth
of December, of The same year, Augusta Ada
their child was born. About six weeks aiter
Lady Byron left London on visit to her father,
in Leicestershire, with the understanding that ker
husba nd wonld shortly join her. They parted in
kindness, nay in tender affection. On tha journey,
Lady Byron wrote him an affectonate and play
ful letter. Immediately on her arrival at the
paternal mansion, her father wrote TO Lord Byron
to inform him that his daughter would return to
him more; and the husband and wife never
met again. Such are the bare facts of the case.
and, for their explanation, obliged 10 resort
to conjecture, and TO glance at the previous history
of both parties.
At the time of his marriage, Lord Byron was
man of fashion, and addicted TO the vices of man
of fashion We believe that his errors in the latter
respect, have been greatly exaggerated; that, in
fact, he transgressed less against the laws of
ally than young men of rank usually do. But lie
was shining mark for the shafts of calumny; and
it was his lot to bear that fury of resentment
WI rla i'll
wards those whose ta'ents cast their pigmy pre-
tensions utterly into the shade. He was not sem
sualist, in the correct sence of that expression.
Biscuit and water often formed his repast; his Ii
bations to Bacchus We're unfrequent. and seldom
excessive; and he Injured himself to fatigue by daily
practice in boxing and fencing. He was always
generous, scattering his money, when he had any
with more than princley generosity. His income
never exceeded four thousand pounds sterling a
year. and, taking his whole life into the account,
we believe he gave away than third of it.
| For all that, however, lie was not a Puritan. 1t
was not in his blood, in his position or in his cir
cumstances, to be We do not justify his de-
partures from morality. On the contrary, we de-
plore them; knowing well, that in morality, all
men ought to be puriianc, and that no degree Of
temptation jusfes any degree Of sin. Marriage
was continually recommended to Byron, an
'antidote'' TO dissipation. At length he took the
prescription-and bitter dose it proved. He
proposed to Miss Mi!lbanke and was refused.
They continued, however, 10 be very friendly
terms and to correspond. H lie proposed u second
time, and accepted. His friends protested
against his choice for two reasons: first, because
she was too "stra-laced,"i e., too good for him;
and secondly, because her fortune consisted chief
ly in expectations. But sitting one day with a
friend, when a refusal from another lady arrived,
Byron said, '.You see that, after all, Miss Mill
banke is to be the person: I will write to her. u
He wrote on the instant and showed the letter
10 his friend who. still demonstrating against his
choice, read the letter over and remarked, 'Wel
really, this is pretty letter: it is pity it
should not so: l never read a prettier one
"Then it shall go,' said Lord Byron. 1t did 60
and it sealed his fate. Thus lightly are the words
spoken, and thus thoughtessy are the deeds done
which make or our happiness for lille.
Miss Mbanke was the pattern daughter of a
pattern country gentleman.-Reader if thou hast
ever resided, for one week, in an English country