The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-09-03
FREMONT SANDUSKY COUNTY OHIO FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1862

~ agreed to form the cloak for each Otherl
| infdelities-and gave her to understand tina
in this way alone she could have peaceful
and friendly life with him, she answered
him simply: I am too truly your friend tc
do this @ 3 l
When Lord Byron found that he had 80 d.
with one who would not yield, who knew
him. who could not be blinded, and coulC
not be deceived, he determined to rid him,
self of her altogether.
1t was when the state Of affairs between
herself and her husband seemed darkest aDC
most hopeless, that the only child of thil
union was born. Lord Byron's treatment o
his wife during the sensitive period that pre-
ceded the birth of this child, and during hel
confinement was marked by proxysms Of IN
manly brutality, for which the only possible
charity on her part was the supposition O
insanity. Moore sheds significant light OF
this period, by telling US that about this time
Byron was often drunk day after day with
Sheridan. There had been insanity in the
family, and this was the plea which Lady
Byron's love put in for him. She regarded
him as, if not insane, nearly spproachiug the
boundaries Of insanity as to be subject Of
fOrbearanee and tender pity, and she loved
him with that love resembling mothers
which good wives often feel when they have
lost all faith in their husbands principles
and all hopes of their affections. Still she
was in heart and soul his best friend, true to
him with truth which he himself could not
shake.
In the verses addressed to his daughter,
Lord Byron speaks of her as esl
''The child of love- though born in bitterness,
lza And nurtured In convulsiOn." >"
A day OF two after the birth of the child,
Lord Byron came suddenly into Lady By
ron's room, and told her that her mother was
dead. ItWss an utter falsehOod, but it was
only one of the many nAmeless Injuries and
cruelties by which he expressed his hatred
of her. A short time after her confinement,
she was informed by him, in a note, that as
soon as she was able to travel she must 60
that he could not and would not longer have
her about him; and when her child was only
five weeks old, he carried this threat Of ex-
pulsiOn into effect. a a4
Here we viii insert briefly Lady ByrOn's
own aecOunt-the only one she ever gave to
the public-of this separation. The cireum-
stances under which this brief story was writ
ten are affecting. 1
Lord Byron was dead. The whole account
between him and her was closed forever in
this world. MOOre's Life had been pre-
pared, containing simply and solely Lord
Byron's own version of their story Moore
sent this version to Lady Byron, and re-
quested to know if she had any remarks to
make upon it. In reply she sent a brief
statement to him-the first and only one that
had ever come from her during all the years
of the separation, and which appears to have
mainly for its object the ezculpaiion Of her
father and mother from the charge made by
the poet of being the instigators of the sep.
aration. r.. NH
In this letter she says, with regard to their
separation; q, rfs
The facts are-I left London for Kirby
Mallory, the residence of my father and mo-
ther, the 18th Of January, 1916. Lord By
ron had signifed to me in writing January
6, bis absolute desire that 1 should leave
London on the earliest day that 1 could con.
venisntly fix. 1t was not safe for me to IN.
dertake the fatigue of journey sooner than
the 18th. Previously to my departure it had
been strongly impressed upon my mind that
Lord Byron was under the influence of in
sanity, This opinion was derived, in great
measure from the communications made me
by his nearest relatives and personal attend
ant who had more opportunity than myself
for observing him during the latter part Of
my stay in town. I was even represented
to me that be was in danger Of destroying
himself q ~ esbes a5-5i-
With. the concurrence Of his tansily, 1 had
consulted Dr.. Baille, as q friend, January 8,
respecting the supposed malady. On ac-
quainting him with the state of the case, and
with Lord Byrons desire that should leave
London, DR.. Baillie thought that my absence
might be advisable as an experiment, assum-
ing the fact Of menta arrangement; for DR..
Bsillie not having had access TO Lord By
ron, could not pronounce positive opinion
on that point He enjoyed that, in cores
Pondence with Lord Byron, l should avoid
all but light and soothing topics. Under
these impressions l left London, determined
to follow the advice given by DR.. Baillie.
Whatever might have been the conduct Of
Lord Byron toward me from the time Of my
marriage, yet, suppOsing him to be 10 al
state Of mental alienation, it was not for me,
nor for any person of common humanity, to
manifest at that moment q sense Of injury n
Nothing more than this letter from Lady
Byron is necessary to substantiats the fact
that she did not teavs her husbane, but was
6fiUsR from him--dTiVen from him that be
might give himself up to the guilty infataa-
ton that was consuming him, without being
tortured by her imploriug face, and by the
silent power of her presence and herprayers.
For a long time before this she had seen
little of him. On the day of her departure
she passed by the door of bis room, and
stopped TO caress his faYorite spaniel, which
was lying there; and she confessed to a friend
the weakness Of feeling willingness even to
be something IS humble az that poor little
creature, might she even te allowed to re-
main and watch over him. She went into
his room where, be and the partner of his
sins were sitting together, and said, 'BryOnrl
come to say goodbye, Offering at the same |
lime her hand. --,- ..sys %
Lord Byron put his hands behind him, re. |
reated to the mantel-piece, and, looking
-ound on the two that stood there with sar-
,astic smile, said: When shall we three
meet again?' Lady Byron answered, 'In
Heaven, | trust and these were her last
words to him on earth,
The reaction of society against him at the /
ime of the separation from his wife, was
which ne he'd not expected, and
or which, itaPPsars, be was entirely unprs-
Jared. 1t broke up the guilty intrigue, and
lroYe him from England. He bad not oour-
ge to meet or endure it. The world, to be
ure, was very far from susPec,ing what the
ruth was, but the tide was setting against
i'm with such Yeheme nee as to make him
remble every hour lest the whole should be
iuOEn; and henceforth it became Wsrefsre
+ desperation TO make his story good, no
natter at whose expense.
Iu1leayipg England, Lord Byron first went
IL - r--.r i