Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-09-04
none were iotelIIrIbIe except ''my sister

Honc were iutelilGime except my elstef
INV child"
When Fletcher returned 10 London,
Lady Byron sent for him, and walked
the room in convulsivc struggles to re-.
press her tears and sobs, while she over
and over again strove to elicit some
thing from him which should enlighton
her upon what that last message had
been; but in van--tbe gates OF eternity
were shut IN her face, aud not q word
had passed TO tell her if he had repented.
" has been thought by some friends
who have read the proofsheet of the
foregoing, that the author should state
more spec fically her authority for these
statements
The circumstances which led the writer
to England at a certain time originated
friendship and correspondence with Lady
Byren, which was always regarded as
one Of the greatest acquisitions of that
visit.
On the occasion of second visit to
England, in 1856, the writer received a
note from Lady Byron, indicating that
she wished to have some private, conf.
dental conversation upon important sub.
jects, and inviting her for that purpose
to spend a day with her at her country
seat near London.
The writer went aud spent day with
Lady Byron alone, and the object of the
invitation was explained to her. Lady
Byron was in such state of health that
her physicians had warned her that she
had very little time TO live. She was
engaged in those duties and retrospcc.
tiens which every thoughtful person
finds necessary when coming deliberately
and with open eyes to the boundaries of
this mortal life.
AT that there was cheap edition of
Byron's worksin contemplation. intended
TO bring his writings into circulation
among the masses, and the pathos aris-
ing from the story Of his domestic mis-
fortunes was one great means reliod OIL
for giving it currency.
Under these circumstances some of
Lady Byron's friends had proposed the
question to her, whether she had not a
responsibility to society for the truth
whether she did right to allow these
writings to gain influence over the popu-
lar mind, by giving silent consent to
what she knew to be utter falshoods.
Lady Byron's whole life had been
passed in the most heroic self-abnepation
aud self sacrifice, and she had now to
consider whether one more act of self.
denial was not required Of her before
leaving the world, namely, 10 declare
the absolute truth, no matter At what cx
pense to her own feelings.
For this reason it was her desire 10
recount the whole history TO person of
another country, and entirely out of the
sphere of personal aud local feelings
which might be supposed to influence
those IN the country and station in life
where the events really happened, in
order that she might be helped by such
a persons views in making up an opinion
AS to her own duty.
The interview had almost the .olcmni-
1y OF death bed avowal. Lady Byron
stated the facts which have been em6odi
ed in this article, and gave to the writer
paper continuing brief memoranda of
the whole, with the dates affixed.
Tho writer was SO impressed and ex-
cited by the whole scene and recital that
she begged for two or three days to de-
liberate, before forming any opinion
She took the memoranda with her, re-
turned to London, and gave a dav or
two to the consideration of the subject.
The decision which she made was chiefly
influenced by her reverence and affection
for Lady Byron. She seemed so frail.
she had suffered so much, she stood at
such height above the comprehension
OF the coarse and common world. that
the author had feeling that it would be
almost like violating shrine, to ask her
10 come forth from the sanctuary of a
silence where she had so long abode and
plead her cause. She wrote to Lady
Byron that while this act of Justice did
seem to be called for. and to be in some
pespects most desirable, yet, as il would
involve so much that was painful 10 her,
the writer considered that Lady Byron
would be entirely justifable in leaving
the truth to he disclosed after her death,
and recommended that all the facts nee
essary should be put into the hands of
some person TO be so published.
Years passed on. Lady Byron Ingcr.
oil four years after this interview, TO tho
wonder of her physicians and all her
friends
Afler Lady Byron's death the writer
locked anxiously, hoping 10 sre me.
moir OF the person whom she considered
the most remarkable woman that Eng.
land had produced in tie century. No
such memoir has appeared on the part of
her friends and the mistress Of Lord
Byron has the ear of the public, and is
sowing far and wide, unworthy SANDERS,
which are eagerly gathered up and read
by an undiseriminating community.
There may be family reasons in Eng
land which prevent Lady Byron's friends
from speaking; but Lady Byron has an
American name and an American cxis.
tence, and reverence for true womanhood
is, we think, u national characteristic of
the American; and, So far as this coun-
try is concerned, we feel that the public
should have this rciutation OF the Sian.
ders of the Countess Guiccioli's book.
TINE PARTNER or ByRoN's CRIME,
The remarkable and revolving disclos-
ares made by Mrs Stowe in her con,ribu.
a.. A ...,I. l. 4 -