New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-20
LITERARY ITEMS.

The academy says the discovery of Junius 80
announced has at length there is every reason to
believe been placed beyond doubt by the researches OF
the Hon. Edward Twlseton who has for the first time
welsnown Mr. Oh. Chabot. The results VIII shortly be
made pube together with fac simeS OF the autographs
U! Jumus's Letters to WOOdfau and George GrenVlle
The contribution to the Byron controversy
furnished in the first number Of Mr.. Murrays new maya
zine, The Academy hardly possesses the Importance
which has been claimed for it in advance 1t is doeu
nent drawn up by Lord Byron in August 1917. while Mr.
dollhouse staying with him at La Mira near Venice
given 10 Mr.. Matthew Gregory Lewis for circulation
among friends in England, found among Dir. LewlSs
papers after his death, and now in the possession VI MI
Murray. II reads as follows
ut has been ntimated to that the persons under
stood to be the legal advisers Of Lady Byron have de-
STation between her and myself II their lips sealed
mp they not sealed up 3y me- ana the greatest aSr
frst hour which was apprised OF the intentions OF
lie Noel family the last communication between Lady
Byron and myself in the character OF wlfe ana hnsod
"a period OF some nonthsl called repeatedly anu
assree n and Was Gey 81 s9Ge Of
Lada ByTon's claiming Din letter still existinGla
was really her WISH that at all this claim.
and the exasperatng and incapable manner III when
impOssiby that two persons d gided could ever he
reunited, induced me reluctantly them aud repenanty
still, to sign the deed, which shall Oe nappy-hlOsI
happy-to cancel and before any tribunal Whlch may
discuss the business IN the most public manner 81,
to abroeate All prior ntentions-and go into courtthe
very day before the separation was signed ana u, Was Vas
declined by the other party as also the pubhcatOh OF the
correspondence during the previous discussion THOSE
and hers to say their worst pedgng myself meet their
observation-disclosures they may oe-and only TOO happy
20 DO informed at last of their real nature BYRON
PSI nave been, and am now. utterly ignorant of
what description her allegations, charges or whatever
they may have assumed, are; and am as little
aware for what purpose they have been Kept 0acK-9n
hess was TO sanction the most Infamous ca9mes 9y
"La Mira. near Venice"
Mr. Murray gives a new Of the destruction of
Byrons Memories, differing materially from the
narrative of Thomas Moore Which ought to he accepted
authentic shall not undertake TO decide. The
present Mr.. Murray, 1t will be remembered, is the
Of the famous publisher to whom the Memoirs were
sold by Moore The following is addressed to the editor
of TIE Academy:
SIR There are points connected with the destruc
hon of ByrOns Autobiography upon which great deal
Of mlseoncepon exists, and upon which should there
To those who doubt the entire destruction Of the MS
Imay state that eyewitness to the burning of il
of 80 Albemarle-st.
The proposal to destroy it originated believe with
my father the late Mr. John Murray aud his reason Tor
making it as he has stated in letter to Mr. r. w Hor-
printed in No. 1S5 Of the Quarterly Rcptec was his
regard for Lord Byrons memory ana respect ior ms
that the publication might be Injurious to the for
and painful to the latter The friends OF LORD ana
following persons previously consulted. as matter
Of courtesy and present at the burning Mr. Hob
as a friend OF Lady Byron (who had actually offered
COX for the MSS which she did not pays Mr. WilmOt
Horton as friend OF the Mrs Leigh my father and
Mr. Moore who alone for some time opposed the destruc
1iOn.
The Ms was, at the time Of its destruction the abso
lutte property of father, having been purchased by
him in November, 1921 from Mr.. Moore Ito whom Lord
Byron had I'D for 22OOO in consideration OF which
Moore covenaned to edit the papers, aud to supply
Of the subsequent events OF Lord Byf0ns me-
May 1922 however, second deed was executed, at
Mr. MOores request giving TO him the power OF redeen
ing the MS, "dHg the life Of The said Lord Byron on
repay by either OF them Of the $4,000 This con
dtOn Moore did not fulfill consequently his interest IN
the Ms. entirely ceased ByrOA's death; by which
event the value Of the MS greatly enhanced 2roba
bly, doubled. This fact, doubt, rendered Mr.. Moore
more anxious 10 recover the Autobiography,
friends in the City to enable him TO do this.
The MS, however, by general consent destroyed
Mr. Moore though reluctantly cOncuTrng. Moore then
pald Mr. Murray the $4,000 for which payment ByrOns
friends offered TO reimburse him. but he refused. SO
rested until 1929 when the appearance of Leigh
Hunts Byron and his Contemporaries convinced my
father that authentic life Of Byron demanded, for
which only Moore and he possessed OF the necessary
materials. He therefore, arranged with Moore 10
pare the Life, Letters, and Journals Of Lord Byron"
published in 1880 For this Moore received the sum Of
But (and this is the point which, IN justice %
fathers memory am anxious TO state) and above
the SUN paid Mr.. Murray discharged MOore's bond
with ms creditors, upon which he had raised the $4,000
paid by him Immediately after Byrons DEATH together
with the interest thereon and other charges amounting
no al,O2 more Thus making total sum OF el.62O
JOHN MURRAY.